Manju Rani, Nitu Ghanghas, Priya and Poonam Strike Gold as India Shine at BOXAM Elite International

India’s women boxers delivered a commanding performance at the BOXAM Elite International in Spain, with Manju Rani, Nitu Ghanghas, Priya and Poonam clinching gold medals across four weight categories.

The quartet headlined a strong Indian campaign that saw multiple finalists and a deep medal haul in one of Europe’s most competitive elite tournaments. Competing against quality international opposition, the Indian contingent showcased technical sharpness, tactical maturity and physical dominance, underlining the steady progress of the women’s programme ahead of a packed international calendar.

Manju Rani Reasserts Authority in 48kg

Former World Championships silver medallist Manju Rani stamped her authority in the women’s 48kg final, defeating Spain’s Marta Lopez del Arbol by a unanimous 5:0 decision. Manju controlled the tempo from the opening bell, combining crisp straight punches with disciplined footwork to neutralise the home boxer’s attempts to close distance. Her semifinal performance had already set the tone, where she outclassed Solomiia Lyniv of Ukraine 5:0. In the final, she carried that rhythm forward, maintaining ring control and landing consistently through all three rounds.

For Manju, this title marks another important step in her resurgence on the international circuit, reinforcing her credentials in a tightly contested light-flyweight division.

Nitu Ghanghas Dominates 51kg Field

Former world champion Nitu Ghanghas delivered one of the most emphatic campaigns of the tournament in the women’s 51kg category. After blanking Asian Games silver medallist Chuthamat Raksat of Thailand 5:0 in the semifinals, Nitu produced another clinical display to defeat Spain’s Noelia Gutiérrez Salmerón by unanimous decision in the gold medal bout.

Nitu’s style was marked by sharp counters and intelligent defensive movement. Against Salmerón, she consistently beat her opponent to the punch and controlled exchanges in the centre of the ring. The 5:0 verdict reflected her complete command over the contest. With back-to-back dominant wins against quality opposition, Nitu’s gold signals both consistency and readiness for bigger global assignments later this season.

The 54kg category produced an all-Indian final, guaranteeing at least one gold for the country. Asian Games medallist Preeti Pawar and Poonam had both impressed in their semifinal bouts Preeti defeating Aya Hamdi of France 5:0, while Poonam edged past Ivy-Jane Smith 4:1.

In the final, it was Poonam who emerged victorious, winning 4:1 by split decision in a closely contested bout. The fight was tactical, with both boxers showcasing familiarity with each other’s styles. Poonam’s sharper combinations and ability to dictate key moments swayed the judges in her favour. The all-Indian clash not only highlighted depth in the 54kg division but also demonstrated internal competition pushing standards higher within the national setup.

Priya Clinches 60kg Gold

Priya Ghanghas continued India’s golden run with a commanding 5:0 win over Ukraine’s Tetiana Dovhal in the 60kg final. Her semifinal victory over former Youth World Champion Maud van der Toorn of the Netherlands had already underlined her form, and she carried that confidence into the gold medal bout. Priya’s performance was built on disciplined guard work and well-timed counters. She consistently found scoring openings while limiting her opponent’s clean connections. The unanimous decision reflected a technically superior outing from the Indian boxer.

Her gold adds further depth to India’s lightweight division and reinforces her growing stature on the elite stage.

Strong Semifinal Showing Across Divisions

India’s campaign was marked not just by golds, but by widespread semifinal success. Eight female boxers progressed to the semifinals, with four settling for bronze medals. At 65kg, Pranjal Yadav fought hard but lost a narrow 2:3 decision to Kazakhstan’s Nazerke Serik. Kajal also fell in the same weight class, going down 0:5 to Kayla Allen.

In 75kg, Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain advanced to the final with a 5:0 win over Rosie Eccles, though compatriot Sanamacha Chanu had to settle for bronze after a 0:5 loss to Mary-Kate Smith. At 80kg, Naina impressed with a 5:0 semifinal win over Guzal Sadikova, while Mankirat Kaur bowed out in the 80+ kg category after an RSC defeat against Umida Sadikova.

The BOXAM Elite International has long been a testing ground for elite boxers preparing for continental and world championships. India’s haul headlined by four gold medals reflects both depth and consistency within the women’s programme.

Victories over European opposition on their home turf, combined with internal competition in certain weight classes, indicate a healthy selection environment. The performances of Manju Rani, Nitu Ghanghas, Priya and Poonam provide momentum heading into the next phase of international competition.

For India, the message from Spain is clear: the women’s boxing unit remains one of the country’s most reliable medal-producing contingents, capable of delivering across multiple weight divisions on the global stage.