India's Jadumani Singh settled for the silver medal after losing by unanimous decision to Australia's Jye Dixon in the boxing final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Saturday. Despite a determined effort, the Indian boxer was outscored by Dixon, whose disciplined counter-punching proved decisive in the gold medal bout.Jadumani takes narrow first roundThe final began with Dixon looking the more composed boxer, finding success with well-timed counter punches as Jadumani searched for his range. The Indian finished the opening round strongly, landing a series of clean shots late on to edge a closely fought round by a 3-2 split decision.Dixon seals gold, Jadumani claims silverWith the bout evenly poised entering the final round, Jadumani looked to force the action in pursuit of gold. Dixon, however, stayed composed, maintaining his defensive discipline while capitalising on counter-punching opportunities. Jadumani produced a late burst in the closing seconds, but it was not enough to sway the judges.The judges unanimously awarded the contest to Dixon, handing the Australian the gold medal. Jadumani Singh finished with silver, adding another medal to India's boxing tally at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.Who is Manipur's Jadumani Singh?Jadumani Singh Mandengbam's sporting journey did not begin inside a boxing ring—it started on the football field. Like many children in India, the boxer from Manipur grew up playing football and soon developed a deep passion for the sport. However, his family initially wanted him to focus on academics and discouraged him from pursuing sports.Undeterred, Jadumani continued playing football, often sneaking out of the house to join his friends. His life changed when his uncle introduced him to boxing, a sport that would eventually become his calling. Years later, when ethnic violence disrupted normal life in Manipur, his family rallied behind him, ensuring that his training continued despite the challenging circumstances.Speaking to Firstpost after winning a silver medal at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida, Jadumani recalled his early years. "I didn’t know much about boxing at an early age. Used to love playing football as a kid, and I was quite good at it as well. Everyone used to like me as a player. My family didn’t support it initially, insisting I focus on my studies rather than play sports. I used to sneak out to play football regardless."He added: "My uncle introduced me to boxing. And although it wasn’t my first love, I’m fully committed to boxing now that I have decided to pursue a career in it."The bold move from 50kg to 55kgJadumani's decision to move from the 50kg to the 55kg weight category was met with scepticism. Standing shorter than many of his opponents, the 23-year-old from Iroishemba, Manipur, was repeatedly told he would struggle against stronger and taller boxers. Some believed the switch could derail the momentum he had built after winning silver in the men's 50kg category at the 2025 World Boxing Cup Finals.Ignoring the doubts, Jadumani trusted his instincts. The gamble paid off as he captured the national title in the 55kg division, was named the tournament's Best Boxer, and secured a place in India's squads for both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games."People kept saying I wouldn’t be able to do well in 55kg because of my height. At times, it affected me mentally, but deep down I believed I could succeed," Jadumani said ahead of the Commonwealth Games.His decision was also driven by a long-term ambition of winning an Olympic medal. With the 51kg category no longer part of the programme for the Los Angeles Olympics, Jadumani recognised the need to establish himself in a higher weight class.Before making the transition, he sought guidance from former world champion L. Sarita Devi, who has remained one of his strongest mentors even after he joined the Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune.This version improves flow, removes repetition, and maintains an inverted-pyramid style while preserving all key details and quotations.