Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and former Youth World champion Arundhati Choudhary spearheaded India’s dominant campaign at the BOXAM Elite International 2026, as the team topped the medals table with nine gold medals here on Sunday.
India finished the tournament as the most successful nation, collecting nine gold, three silver and seven bronze medals at the elite-level event, which featured over 200 boxers from 20 countries.
The Indian women delivered a standout performance, reaching seven elite finals on Saturday, including an all-Indian title bout in the 54kg category, and converting all seven into gold medals.
Manju Rani (48kg) and Nitu (51kg) began the final day with unanimous decision victories over Spain’s Marta Lopez and Noelia Gutierrez respectively. Poonam (54kg) then edged compatriot Preeti in a closely fought all-Indian final.
Priya (60kg) and Arundhati (70kg) followed with commanding 5:0 wins against Ukrainian opponents, while Lovlina (75kg) showcased her experience and composure to defeat England’s Mary-Kate Smith 4:1. Naina (80kg) completed the sweep with a controlled win over Ukraine’s Raisa Piskun.
In the men’s finals, Sachin (60kg) produced one of the most competitive bouts of the day, edging Canada’s Keoma-Ali Al Ahmadieh 3:2. Akash (75kg) added another gold after a tense 3:2 victory over Kazakhstan’s Aman Konsbekov.
Deepak (70kg) and Ankush (80kg) settled for silver medals after strong challenges from boxers from Kazakhstan and Ukraine respectively.
Also read: 12 Indian pugilists to vie for gold at Boxam
Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh said the tournament provided vital early-season exposure. “BOXAM Elite offered exactly the kind of exposure we were seeking at this stage of the season, including strong international opposition, depth across weight categories, and high-pressure bouts,” Singh said.
“The performances in Spain, particularly the conversion rate in finals, reflect the progress of our programme. With a demanding year ahead, this tournament has been a valuable step in preparing our boxers for the challenges to come,” he added.
Indian women’s head coach Santiago Nieva praised the discipline shown by his boxers. “This was an exceptional showing from the women, not just in terms of medals, but in how they boxed with discipline, clarity, and confidence,” Nieva said.
“Reaching seven finals and winning all seven speaks volumes about the work being done across the system. Credit also goes to the entire Indian team, the men and women pushed each other throughout the tournament,” he added.
India’s performance in Spain provides momentum as the national programme prepares for a packed international calendar, including major championships and multi-sport events later this year.
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