India win 8 golds at Usti nad Labem Grand Prix, finish with 12 medals
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
India produced one of their strongest international boxing performances of the season at the 56th Grand Prix Usti nad Labem in Czechia, claiming 12 medals — 8 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze — across men's and women's categories. The tournament, held in Usti nad Labem, is among Europe's oldest and most prestigious boxing competitions.
Women's Team Lead the Charge
The Indian women's contingent was the standout unit, delivering 4 gold medals and 1 silver from just five boxers. Lovlina Borgohain, the Olympic medallist competing in the 75kg category, defeated Italy's Melissa Gemini 5-0 in the final. Reigning Asian champion Preeti Pawar was equally dominant, outclassing France's Jeyssa Marcel 5-0 in the 54kg title bout.
Sakshi (51kg) registered a commanding 5-0 win over France's Mayssoun Bourega, while Priya (60kg) defeated home favourite Barbora Maxova of Czechia 5-0 to complete a sweep of unanimous victories for the gold medallists. Parveen (65kg) added a silver to round off an exceptional team showing.
Men's Boxers Match Women's Gold Tally
The men's team mirrored the women's gold count, with four champions emerging from their respective weight categories. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (55kg) edged England's Abdul Burton 4-1 in a closely contested final. Sachin (60kg) and Ankush (80kg) both recorded dominant 5-0 victories over Hungary's Veres Rohland and Czech Republic's Florian Daniel respectively.
Narender claimed the heavyweight gold in the +90kg category, edging Armenia's Davit Chaloyan 3-2 in a hard-fought final. Aditya Pratap Yadav (65kg) and Kapil Pokhariya (90kg) settled for silver after narrow final defeats, while Sumit Kundu (70kg) took home India's lone bronze.
BFI President Hails the Performance
Boxing Federation of India (BFI) President Ajay Singh congratulated the squad, saying: 'Winning eight gold medals and three silver medals against strong international competition is a remarkable achievement and reflects the dedication, discipline and fighting spirit of our boxers.'
Singh specifically singled out the women's team: 'A special appreciation to our women's team for their exceptional performance, securing four gold medals and one silver medal from just five boxers. This is a proud moment for Indian boxing.'
Commonwealth Games 2026 in Focus
The Usti nad Labem Grand Prix served as a key preparatory assignment for the Indian contingent ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Several medal-winners have reportedly been selected for the Games, with Singh urging them to 'train hard, stay focused and compete with confidence.' The strong showing suggests India's boxing programme is building momentum at a critical juncture in the qualification cycle.