Paris Olympics 2024: Know Your Athlete Lovlina Borgohain
New Delhi: Having grabbed a bronze in Tokyo Olympics, boxer Lovlina Borgohain would look to change the colour of her medal in Paris when the women’s boxing event starts at the North Paris Arena. While Lovlina’s Tokyo 2020 medal came in 69kg category, the Assamese will be competing in the 75kg weight category in Paris after the old division was scrapped from the Paris 2024 programme.
With gold medals at Asian Championships and World Championships in addition to an Olympic bronze, Lovlina has carried forward the legacy of women in Indian boxing that was founded by six-time World Champion MC Mary Kom. With Paris Games in horizon, Lovlina stands a chance to become the first Indian boxer with two Olympic medals. For the unknown, a semifinal entry ensures an Olympic medal in boxing.
Meanwhile, Lovlina has been handed a tough draw as she will start her campaign against Sunniva Hofstad of Norway. If all goes well, she could face China’s Li Qian In the quarterfinals. Notably, the Indian lost to Qian at the Asian Games final last year.
Coming from a poverty-stricken family, Lovlina’s tryst with combat sports began when he took up Muay Thai after getting inspired by her elder sisters Licha and Lima. Her shift to amateur boxing happened after she met with Indian boxing coach Padum Boro during Sports Authority of India’s trials.
She began her training at Netaji Subhas Regional Centre in Guwahati in 2012 at the age of 14 and won the junior national championship in 2012 and a silver at the 2013 Nation’s Women’s Junior Cup in Serbia.