Lovlina Borgohain wins silver in women’s 75kg boxing at the Asian Games 2023

Team India has already begun to earn medals in the 19th Asian Games 2022, which are being hosted in Hangzhou, China. Olympic boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who won silver in the 75kg division, has added to the total. This victory comes only days after she qualified for the next Paris 2024 Olympics by reaching the final round of the existing Asian Games.

Loving was defeated 0-5 by the Chinese, who avenged her setback at the World Championships in March. Lovlina, who shifted to the 75kg class last year when the 69kg division was withdrawn from the Paris 2024 calendar, may take heart in the fact that she has qualified for the Olympics by reaching the summit fight here.

Li took an aggressive start against Lovlina, who battled to keep up with the one-time World champion and Olympic silver medalist. With just one jab, the Indian appeared to connect. It wasn’t a high-octane boxing match, with Lovlina and Li doing a lot of holding, ducking, and avoiding. The 33-year-old only needed a couple of rights on Lovlina to win the opening round. The second round was as lacklustre, with both fighters attempting to avoid contact. Lovlina received a point penalty halfway through the round, thus ending her prospects of staging a comeback.

The second round was also won by Qian, as Lovlina’s comeback grew more difficult. Qian, who is somewhat shorter than her opponent, went on the attack in the last round, landing a couple of left punches and right cross combinations on Lovlina to win the gold.

Post match Lovlina said: “I’m happy that I got this medal, and I feel a little bit disappointed because I thought I would get a gold medal. But I will try next time, and I will give 100 per cent, and I will definitely get a gold medal.”

This is India’s first silver medal in the Asian Games boxing competition. At Incheon 2014, Mary Kom won the gold medal. Lovlina Borgohain defeated Li Qian in the world championships semi-finals earlier this year, winning by a 4:1 split decision. Lovlina Borgohain, an Olympic medalist and world champion, earned a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics by reaching the final of the women’s 75kg event.