With Nikhat Zareen opting out, Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and Olympian Pooja Rani will lead India’s 33-member boxing contingent at the Boxam Elite International 2026 in La Nucia, Alicante, Spain, on Tuesday.
World Boxing Cup Finals gold medallists Hitesh Gulia and Sachin Siwach are also a part of the squad.
Telagana boxer Nikhat Zareen (51kg) has opted out of the tournament to focus on her preparation for the Asian Championships, a key stepping stone towards Olympic qualification pathways, scheduled for late March.
Reigning world champions Minakshi Hooda (48kg) and Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) are also absent. Jaismine is nursing a shoulder injury.
The Boxam Elite International will be India’s first major overseas assignment of the year and will serve as a test for Indian boxers on the global stage in their build-up to the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games later this year.
India’s squad for the Boxam Elite International was selected on the basis of the recently concluded National Boxing Championships.
India’s boxing contingent features a blend of proven international performers and emerging talent, with the Boxam Elite International also offering crucial exposure and preparation ahead of the Asian Championships in March.
India’s boxers will enter the Boxam Elite International on the back of a strong 2025 season that was capped off with a record 20-medal haul, including nine golds, at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida.
The Boxam Elite International also marks an important transition phase for Indian boxing, with Santiago Nieva taking charge of the women’s team in his first international assignment as the new head coach. Kuttappa Chenanda Achaiah will lead the men’s squad.
In the past, the Boxam International has traditionally served as a testing ground for elite boxers.
Indian boxing squad:
Men: Rishi Singh (50kg), Jadumani Singh (55kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Mohammed Hussam Uddin (60kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Aditya Pratap Yadav (65kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Hitesh Gulia (70kg), Deepak (70kg), Akash (75kg), Ankush (80kg), Malsawmtluanga (80kg), Jugnoo Ahlawat (85kg), Harsh Choudhary (90kg), Naman Tanwar (90kg), Sawan Gill (90+kg).
Women: Manju Rani (48kg), Nitu Ghanghas (51kg), Kusum (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Poonam (54kg), Prachi, (57kg), Vinka (57kg), Priya (60kg), Disha Vijay Patil (60kg), Pranjal Yadav (65kg), Kajal (65kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Sneha (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Sanamacha Chanu (75kg), Naina (80kg), Mankirat Kaur (80+kg).
