Paris, July 31: Tokyo Olympics bronze-winner Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) began her quest for a second successive Games medal confidently as she out-punched Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad in her opening bout here on Wednesday.
Borgohain prevailed 5-0 in the contest and she is now just one win away from adding to her Tokyo bronze, which was claimed in the 69kg category, and achieve a feat that is unprecedented in Indian boxing.
But her path is not an easy one as she will take on top-seeded Chinese Li Qian in the last-eight stage on August 4. A win in this bout would ensure at least a bronze medal for her.
Her performance on the day was an assured one. While her rival seemed keen to draw her into a slugfest, Borgohain kept her composure and distance to land clean blows on counter-attack.
The Indian also had to deal with plenty of clinching by Hofstad, who came across busier of the two boxers, complete with a perilously low guard.
But the Assam-boxer didn’t fall into the trap and attacked the Norwegian with precision by drawing her in.
Borgohain has been handed a tough draw but the wiry pugilist has shown the ability to rise above it in her past performances, most notably in Tokyo where she defeated world champion Chen Nien-Chin in the quarterfinals to secure herself a bronze.
Her opponent on August 4, Qian, is a silver-medallist from the Tokyo Games in the middle-weight (75kg) division.
She had also won a bronze in the 2016 Rio Games and claimed a gold medal in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
The Indian boxing campaign at the Games has been mixed so far with three of the six in contention, already out of the competition.
Those ousted early include former Asian Games champion Amit Panghal (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg) and Jaismine Lamboria (57kg).
Remaining in fray apart from Borgohain are the debutant duo of world champion Nikhat Zareen (women’s 50kg) and Nishant Dev (men’s 71kg). Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday congratulated boxer Lovlina Borgohain for winning her inaugural bout and advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Borgohain defeated Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad 5-0 in the women’s 75 kg round of 16.
“Fantastic, Lovlina! What a start. Your performance in the round of 16 bout against Sunniva Hofstad was absolutely stunning. All the best for the quarterfinals, champ!” the Chief Minister posted on X.
Earlier in the day, Sarma had expressed his best wishes for Lovlina’s Olympic campaign in another post. “Assam’s daughter and ace Indian pugilist @LovlinaBorgohai begins her #Paris2024 campaign today as she takes to the boxing ring to punch her way towards the coveted #Olympics glory,” he wrote.
Lovlina, who serves as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Assam, also received congratulations from Director General of Police (DGP) G P Singh. “Best wishes @LovlinaBorgohai. The prayers of all of us are with you. God bless,” Singh posted on X.
Lovlina won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (PTI)
