La Nucia, Spain – The Indian contingent concluded the BOXAM Elite International 2026 in La Nucia, Alicante, Spain, on a high note, securing the top position with a remarkable haul of nine gold medals. The final day of the competition saw a series of stellar performances, headlined by Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain.
Borgohain, competing in the 75kg category, demonstrated her experience and skill, securing a unanimous victory over Rosie Eccles of Wales. Her commanding performance was a key highlight of India's final day surge.
India's dominance was particularly evident in the women's division, with former Youth World Champion Arundhati Choudhary also leading the charge. Indian boxers were represented in seven of the Elite Women's finals, showcasing the depth and strength of the nation's female boxing talent. An all-Indian title clash in the 54kg division guaranteed a gold medal for the contingent, with Poonam ultimately edging out Preeti in a closely contested bout.
Other notable gold medalists in the women's category included Manju Rani (48kg), who defeated Marta Lopez of Spain. Nitu (51kg) secured a victory over Noelia Gutierrez, also from Spain. Priya (60kg) won against Tetiana Dovhal of Ukraine and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) also won her bout. Naina also added a gold in the 80kg category.
In the men's competition, Sachin (60kg) led the way, overcoming Jack Dryden of England. Deepak (70kg), Akash (75kg), and Ankush (80kg) further contributed to India's gold medal tally with dominant performances. Deepak's first-round RSC (Referee Stops Contest) victory against Nurbek Mursal of Kazakhstan was particularly impressive.
The BOXAM Elite International 2026 featured over 200 boxers from 20 nations. India's success in the tournament underscores the progress of its boxing program and provides a significant boost as the nation prepares for major international events, including the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Several Indian boxers also secured bronze medals, including Pranjal Yadav (65kg), Kajal (65kg), Sanamacha Chanu (75kg), and Mankirat Kaur (80 kg) in the women's competition. Jadumani Singh (55kg), Mohammed Hussam Uddin (60kg), and Hitesh Gulia (70kg) added to the bronze medal count in the men's division.
With a final count of nine gold, three silver, and seven bronze medals, India finished as the most successful nation at the BOXAM Elite International 2026. The strong showing in La Nucia is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the boxers and coaching staff, signaling a promising future for Indian boxing on the global stage. Santiago Nieva, the newly appointed head coach of the women's team, seems to have made an immediate impact.