Alicante, February 8: India concluded the Boxam Elite 2026 with an impressive performance on the final day. Led by Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain and former youth world champion Arundhati Choudhary, the Indian team secured nine gold medals in La Nucia, Alicante.
On Saturday, India participated in seven elite women’s finals, including an all-Indian title clash in the 54 kg category. The Indian squad triumphed in each final, winning gold medals across the board.
The Boxam Elite 2026 featured over 200 boxers from 20 countries. India emerged as the most successful nation, clinching nine gold, three silver, and seven bronze medals.
The Indian women’s team set a benchmark on the final day. Manju Rani (48 kg) and Neetu (51 kg) started strong with unanimous victories over Spain’s Marta Lopez and Noelia Gutierrez. Poonam (54 kg) then defeated compatriot Preeti in a tightly contested all-Indian final. Priya (60 kg) and Arundhati (70 kg) both achieved impressive 5:0 victories over their Ukrainian opponents, while Lovlina (75 kg) showcased her control and composure, winning 4:1 against England’s Mary-Kate Smith. Naina (80 kg) completed the sweep with an easy win over Ukraine’s Raisa Piskun.
In the men’s finals, Sachin (60 kg) secured one of the day’s most thrilling matches, edging out Canada’s Keoma-Ali Al Ahmadi 3:2. Akash (75 kg) also earned a gold medal after a nail-biting 3:2 victory against Kazakhstan’s Aman Konsbekov. However, Deepak (70 kg) and Ankush (80 kg) had to settle for silver after tough contests against Kazakhstan and Ukraine, respectively.
BFI President Ajay Singh remarked, “Boxam Elite 2026 provided exactly the kind of opportunity we were seeking at this stage of the season. We encountered strong international competition, depth across weight categories, and high-pressure matches. The performance in Spain, especially the conversion rate in the finals, reflects our program’s progress. This tournament has been a crucial step in preparing our boxers for upcoming challenges. Congratulations to the entire team for a fantastic campaign.”
Commenting on the women’s performance, Indian women’s team head coach Santiago Nieva stated, “This was a remarkable performance by the women. Reaching all seven finals and winning them all speaks volumes about the work being done throughout the system. Credit also goes to the entire Indian team. The men and women pushed each other throughout the tournament. That is the key to success.”
