Aichi-Nagoya (Japan): Birthday girl Lovlina Borgohain gave herself the perfect gift on Friday, outclassing China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 to win the women’s 75kg boxing gold at the Asian Games and etch her name deeper into Indian sporting history.
The Olympic bronze medallist and former world champion controlled the final from the opening bell at the Nishio Gymnasium, using sharp counters and composed defence to neutralise her aggressive Chinese opponent. Judges scored the bout unanimously in her favour, handing Lovlina her first Asian Games gold after she had settled for silver in the same category at Hangzhou four years ago.
With the victory, the Golaghat-born pugilist became only the second Indian woman boxer after the legendary MC Mary Kom to claim an Asian Games gold medal. It also ended India’s 12-year wait for a women’s boxing title at the continental event.
Lovlina had entered the final on the back of a hard-fought semi-final win, becoming the first Indian woman to reach consecutive Asian Games boxing finals. On Friday she left nothing to chance, steadily building her lead across three rounds to seal a dominant performance.
Back home, Assam erupted in celebration. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke to the boxer soon after her win and later said the state was proud of its daughter. “Assam awaits your glorious return,” the Chief Minister posted, adding that the entire state was celebrating her birthday triumph.
For Lovlina, the gold completes a long and often difficult journey that has already included an Olympic bronze, a world title and multiple Asian medals. On the day she turned 29, she finally changed the colour of her Asian Games medal from silver to gold.
