Paris, Aug 1: Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) moved confidently into the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics, defeating Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad 5-0 in her opening bout on Wednesday. Borgohain, who won her bronze in the 69kg category, is now just one win away from securing a second consecutive Olympic medal.
Her next challenge will be a tough one, as she faces top-seeded Chinese boxer Li Qian in the quarterfinals on August 4. A win would guarantee at least a bronze medal for Borgohain.
Borgohain’s performance against Hofstad was composed and strategic. She maintained her distance and landed clean counter-attacks, avoiding Hofstad’s attempts to draw her into a slugfest. Despite Hofstad’s aggressive approach and frequent clinching, Borgohain kept her focus and delivered precise blows.
Borgohain has a history of overcoming difficult draws, as demonstrated by her victory over world champion Chen Nien-Chin in the Tokyo Games quarterfinals. Her upcoming opponent, Li Qian, is a formidable contender with a silver medal from the Tokyo Games, a bronze from the 2016 Rio Games, and a gold from the 2022 Asian Games.
India’s boxing campaign at the Paris Olympics has seen mixed results, with three out of six boxers already out of the competition. Those eliminated early include former Asian Games champion Amit Panghal (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Jaismine Lamboria (57kg). Still in contention, along with Borgohain, are debutants and world champion Nikhat Zareen (women’s 50kg) and Nishant Dev (men’s 71kg).
As Borgohain prepares for her crucial quarterfinal match, she remains focused on adding another Olympic medal to her achievements and making history for Indian boxing.