Lovlina, Arundhati lead India’s gold rush at BOXAM Elite 2026

Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and former Youth World champion Arundhati Choudhary spearheaded India’s dominant performance as the country wrapped up a highly successful campaign at the BOXAM Elite International 2026 here, claiming nine gold medals .

India’s women’s team was the standout on the final day, setting a benchmark with victories in all seven elite women’s finals , including an all-Indian clash in the 54kg category . Manju Rani (48kg) and Nitu (51kg) opened proceedings with emphatic unanimous wins over Spain’s Marta Lopez and Noelia Gutierrez . In the 54kg final, Poonam narrowly defeated compatriot Preeti in a tense bout. Priya (60kg) and Arundhati (70kg) followed with commanding 5:0 victories against Ukrainian opponents. Lovlina, showcasing her trademark composure and control, defeated England’s Mary-Kate Smith 4:1 , while Naina (80kg) completed the sweep with a measured win over Ukraine’s Raisa Piskun .

Reflecting on the women’s performances, Indian women’s head coach Santiago Nieva said, “This was an exceptional showing, not just in medals but in the way the boxers performed with discipline, clarity, and confidence. Reaching seven finals and winning all seven speaks volumes about the progress across the system.”

The men’s contingent also delivered memorable moments. Sachin (60kg) produced one of the day’s most gripping performances, edging out Canada’s Keoma-Ali Al Ahmadieh 3:2 , while Akash (75kg) secured another gold with a tight 3:2 win over Kazakhstan’s Aman Konsbekov . Deepak (70kg) and Ankush (80kg) settled for silver after strong challenges from Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

With over 200 boxers from 20 nations , the BOXAM Elite 2026 offered India valuable international exposure early in the season. Ajay Singh , president of the Boxing Federation of India , said, “The tournament provided strong opposition, depth across weight categories, and high-pressure bouts. The performances, particularly the conversion rate in finals, reflect the progress of our programme. With a demanding year ahead, this has been a valuable step in preparing our boxers for the challenges to come.”

India finished as the most successful team at the tournament, taking nine gold, three silver, and seven bronze medals , signalling strong momentum as the national programme heads into a packed international calendar.