India’s Lovlina Borgohain from Assam has made sure of India’s first boxing medal at the ongoing Olympics when she upstaged former World champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei in the women’s Welterweight (64-69kg) quarter-finals, in Tokyo.
The 23-year-old debutant Assam boxer from Golaghat, prevailed 4-1 to make the last-four, where she will square off against reigning World champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey, who hammered Anna Lysenko in her quarter-final bout.
Borgohain, a two-time World championship bronze-medallist, displayed tremendous calm in the face of a plucky opponent, who had beaten her in the past.
She started aggressively and maintained a tremendous counter-attack in the final three minutes to emerge triumphant.
The youngster, who was laid low by COVID-19 last year and missed a training trip to Europe because of it, let out a huge scream after the referee raised her hand, pent up emotions finally getting the better of her.
India’s previous Olympics boxing medals have come through Vijender Singh (2008) and M C Mary Kom (2012). Both won bronze medals. If Lovlina can go further then it will be fantastic.
Lovlina’s superb show did not go unnoticed
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted his delight
India is confirmed of 2nd Olympics medal??
What a lovely Boxing from Lovlina?@LovlinaBorgohai has reached semi-finals and looking for Gold medal in #Tokyo2020 Olympics!#Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/Rc3IU93svF— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) July 30, 2021
A happy Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma too tweeted his happiness
This is a BIG punch ❤️
You continue to make us proud #LovlinaBorgohain and keep India’s flag high & shining at #TokyoOlympics2020.
Well done ? @LovlinaBorgohai pic.twitter.com/RYFACkNXUN
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 30, 2021
Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways , Former Assam Chief Minister
Aaaaaand Lovlina does it!
An #Olympics bout to remember, as @LovlinaBorgohai ? her way to the #Boxing Semi-finals. The dream lives on. Congratulations and best wishes. #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/vi4mjWTm1Y
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) July 30, 2021
