Following the exciting Olympic medal win of weightlifter Mirabai Chanu at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, another win followed closely on its heels. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain assured India of first boxing medal at Tokyo Olympics on July 30. She is set to take on world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the semi-finals on August 4.
But until then, get to know the 23-year-old boxing champ.
Lovlina is the youngest of three siblings (she has two elder sisters). Hailing from a village called Bormukhia located the town of Barpathar in the Golaghat district, Assam, she belongs to a family who rely on paddy farming.
Over the phone, speaking with MetroPlus , her father Tiken Borgohain, bubbling with excitement, says he is elated at her win and confident she will bag an Olympic gold for the country next time. Lovlina first learnt mixed martial arts muay thai and then later graduated to boxing once she was enrolled by Sports Authority of India.
Read more | Baromukhia village celebrates its favourite daughter, Lovlina Borgohain
Lovlina’s success was celebrated with a lot of fervour in their small village. An ardent fan of Manipur’s Mary Kom, Lovlina has always been a sports lover since childhood. Even though there is no facility for sports training in the town of Barpathar, seeing her enthusiasm for sports her father decided to enroll the then-12-year-old Lovlina for muay thai classes started by a local group of boys.
Speaking at a recent virtual press conference, she stated, “I started thinking that no matter the situation, I would give my best. I want to win even if I am fighting with a broken hand.”
Lovlina with her parents before leaving for Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She bagged the second medal for the country
India's Lovlina Borgohain celebrates after winning against Chinese Taipei's Nien-Chin Chen after their women's welter (64-69kg) quarter-final boxing match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo on July 30, 2021.
India's Lovlina Borgohain reacts after defeating Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei, in their women's welter weight 69kg quarterfinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Tokyo: India's Lovlina Borgohain before her bout against Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei during women's welterweight (64-69kg) category boxing match, at the Summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo, Friday, July 30, 2021. Borgohain won 4-1.
Tokyo: India's Lovlina Borgohain lands a punch on Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei during women's welterweight (64-69kg) category boxing match, at the Summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo, Friday, July 30, 2021. Borgohain won 4-1.
Toyko: India's Lovlina Borgohain, left, reacts hearing the judges decision in her victory over Nien-Chin Chen, of Chinese Taipei in their women's welter weight 69kg quarterfinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Tokyo: India's Lovlina Borgohain reacts after winning her bout against Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei during women's welterweight (64-69kg) category boxing match, at the Summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo, Friday, July 30, 2021. Borgohain won 4-1.
Lovlina at training
Lovlina with Tiken Borgohain. her father from an earlier win
Lovlina with her mother, at their home in Barpathar village in Assam
Lovlina loves beaches, here she is enjoying the scenery from one of her earlier travels
Lovlina off-duty, away from the boxing ring
Lovlina with her mother and her elder sisters
Lovlina’s home in Baromukhia village in Barpathar, Assam
Lovlina’s parents celebrating the Tokyo 2020 Olympics medal win with a cake