India topped the medal standings at the Grand Prix Usti nad Labem in the Czech Republic ahead of Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Italy and Bulgaria.
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Montenegro, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey and Wales competed in Usti nad Labem as preparation for the next actions.
The bout of the day
Hungary’s Luca Hamori, the quarter-finalist from the Paris Olympics, had a massive pathway to the finals of the women’s 65kg where she met India’s Parveen Hooda, a well-experienced and a tall opponent. The 25-year-old Hungarian not only kept the same rhythm as Parveen but she worked well enough to take the gold medal, her next after the annual Bocskai Memorial Tournament.
The surprise of the day
Bulgaria’s Roselin Bachevski was not mentioned as the favourite of the 90kg weight class in Usti nad Labem but finally he reached the top of the podium. The Bulgarian heavyweight boxer eliminated two top Hungarians as the Youth World bronze medallist Levente Kiss and Milan Kiss during his road to the finals. Bachevski was still hungry for the further successes and he had another remarkable performance in the final against India’s Kapil Pokhariya.
The Round-up
Hungary’s European U23 silver medallist Lilla Szeleczki claimed a silver medal at the Belgrade Winner Tournament last month and she switched that result into a gold in Usti nad Labem. The 23-year-old Hungarian was a hard target for Slovakia’s experienced Nicole Durikova and she controlled the exchanges with her speed advantage. Szeleczki jumped into the best fighting range with quick actions and her efforts were decisive in the first final of the entire Grand Prix.
India’s Sakshi Choudhary defeated her World Champion teammate, Nikhat Zareen in the National Selection Trials therefore she found the way to compete in the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The 26-year-old former Youth World Champion used also a long-range strategy as Szeleczki and her efforts paid off against France’s Mayssoun Bourega in the final of the women’s 51kg.
India’s next hero in the women’s national team, the Paris Olympian and the Asian Champion Preeti Pawar was too smart for all of her opponents in the Grand Prix. The 23-year-old boxer felt the tempo against France’s next finalist, Jeyssa Marcel and she had the advantage on the scorecards after three minutes. Preeti, who has been also preparing for the Commonwealth Games, earned a gold medal before that multisport event in Czechia.
Hungary’s second finalist, Vladislava Kukhta was a silver medallist at the World Cup Stage 1 in Brazil and she had a great preparation camp in Assisi before the Grand Prix Usti nad Labem. The Hungarian eliminated Turkey’s Olympics bronze medallist Esra Yildiz Kahraman in the semi-finals of the women’s 57kg and she controlled her final bout against Czechia’s returning Lenka Bernardova as well.
Wales’ Commonwealth Games winner Rosie Eccles returned to the sport in the beginning of the year after the unsuccessful Paris Olympics. The Welsh girl built herself back not only physically but also mentally as well and the 70kg weight category is the best for her. Eccles was too strong for France’s Andrea Badin in the next final and she celebrated an emotional gold medal before the next Commonwealth Games.
India’s Lovlina Borgohain is a World Champion, Asian Champion and Olympic bronze medallist star in women’s boxing who also joined back the national squad this year. She worked hard in all of her events in 2026 and she continued her winning path after beating Italy’s Melissa Gemini at the 75kg. Czechia’s Stella Blazkova, the U19 World Champion from 2024, earned the last female title against Norway’s Sofia Stigen Sorensen at the 80kg.
Philippines’ Clark Vicera shined in the European preparation events last month and their next top athlete at the 50kg weight class, Jay Bryan Baricuatro was their next amazing boxer in the smallest male division in Usti nad Labem. The Filipino, who claimed already medal in Asian levels as well, overcame Bulgaria’s Ergyunal Sebahtin Sabri in the attacks and he bagged the first male title in the event.
England’s Abdul-Rahman Burton knocked out France’s European U23 Champion Izaya Gaucher in the semi-finals but he was not able to beat India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam in the men’s 55kg final and earned only a silver medal this time. The next Indian, Sachin Siwach also succeeded in the day of the finals, he was slightly quicker in the attacks than Hungary’s returning Roland Veres.
Slovakia’s Adolf Stanek exceeded his previous level of boxing in the entire competition and he claimed a gold medal against Wales’ Orlando Holley-Sotomi in the final of the 70kg. His teammate, Ladislav Horvath also joined the finals in Usti nad Labem but Hungary’s World bronze medallist Akilov Pylyp was too strong for him at the 75kg title bout.
Italy’s Giacomo Giannotti, India’s Ankush, Austria’s World bronze medallist Michael Fares Derouiche and India’s Narender Berwal won the remaining male titles in Usti nad Labem.