La Nucia, Spain – The Indian boxing contingent has continued its impressive run at the BOXAM Elite International Tournament 2026, with an astounding twelve pugilists advancing to the finals. The competition, held at the Camilo Cano Pavilion in La Nucia, Alicante, Spain, has seen the Indian team showcase exceptional skill and determination.
The women's squad, under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Santiago Nieva, has been particularly dominant. Eight women boxers have secured their places in the finals, guaranteeing India at least one gold medal as Preeti (54kg) and Poonam (54kg) are set to face off in an all-Indian final. Joining them are Manju Rani (48kg), Nitu (51kg), Priya (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) and Naina (80kg), all of whom secured emphatic victories in their respective semi-final bouts. Lovlina Borgohain, an Olympic medalist, stormed into the finals with a unanimous decision against Rosie Eccles of Wales.
The men's team has also demonstrated considerable strength, with four boxers making their way to the finalContests. Sachin (60kg) led the charge with a dominant win over England's Jack Dryden. Deepak (70kg) delivered a standout performance, forcing a first-round RSC (Referee Stops Contest) against Nurbek Mursal of Kazakhstan, a silver medalist at the World Boxing Cup Finals. Akash (75kg) and Ankush (80kg) further solidified India's presence in the finals, overcoming tough opponents from Kazakhstan.
The semi-final stage also saw some impressive performances that resulted in bronze medals for Pranjal Yadav (65kg), Kajal (65kg), Sanamacha Chanu (75kg), and Mankirat Kaur (80+kg) in the women's competition.
Several Indian boxers displayed strong performances earlier in the tournament. Nitu (51 kg) shut out Canada's McKenzie Wright with a 5:0 win, and Preeti (54 kg) forced an abandonment in Round 3 against Spain's Maria Gonzalez. Jadumani Singh (55kg) outclassed Peng Chia-Feng of Chinese Taipei 5:0. Mohammed Hussam Uddin (60kg) defeated Ukraine's Ali Dahly unanimously, and Akash (75kg) secured a 4:1 win over Spain's Jose Luis Canero. Sachin (60kg) battled past Ukraine's Aider Abduraimov in a tense 3:2 decision.
Not all contests resulted in victories for India. Kusum (51kg) suffered a defeat to Thailand's Chuthamat Raksat, while Prachi (57kg) and Vinka (57kg) were defeated by England's Vivien Parsons and Thailand's Punrawee Ruenros respectively. Disha Patil (60kg) was disqualified in Round 3 against Thailand's Thanaya Somnuek. Pawan Bartwal lost narrowly to England's Ellis Trowbridge, and Abhinash Jamwal lost to Ukraine's Elvin Aliiev.
With 12 finalists, India is the most well-represented nation in the finals, surpassing Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Spain. The finals are scheduled for Saturday, and anticipation is high as the Indian boxers aim to add to their medal tally. The BOXAM Elite International 2026 serves as a crucial platform for these athletes as they prepare for the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games.