India’s medal chase continues to build as boxer Lovlina Borgohain fought her way valiantly to a Silver against China in the Women’s 75 kg Boxing final in Hangzhou.
Lovlina lost to China’s Li Qian in an unanimous 5-0 decision by the judges.
Borgohain beat Thailand’s Maneekon Baison 5-0 in the semifinal with a unanimous decision from the judges, and she also booked her berth in next year’s Paris Olympics.
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The win was enough for Borgohain to seal her place in next year’s Olympics, she became the fourth Indian boxer to win the Olympic quota for the Paris Olympics after Nikhat Zareen, Preeti and Parveen Hooda.
SHINING SILVER FOR LOVLINA‘s Boxer and #TOPSchemeAthlete @LovlinaBorgohai wins the SILVER medal in the Women’s 75 kg category
Her incredible prowess in the ring shines brighter than ever. Let’s give her a thunderous round of applause!
Congratulations,… pic.twitter.com/i0qSwfD51o
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) October 4, 2023
Here in the final, she was tasked with facing off against China’s Li Qian.
Both boxers came out of the gate in the first round, guns blazing, as they threw a flurry of punches to get the upper hand on the other.
After a spirited start, both boxers opted to go on the defensive, tempting and taunting the other to reach out to take their chances. The first round ended as both fighters traded a fair blows to the other, thereby leaving the judges to call in a split decision.
With the awareness that this was going to be a close fight to call, both fighters were primed to come out and make a statement and stake their claim on the gold.
But, the second round yet again saw the competitors come out of the gate with fire in their eyes, but China’s Li Qian weaved her way in and out of Lovlina’s attacks, and gained an edge over the Indian as she glided her way to some easy hooks and jabs and a win in the second round.
With China’s Li Qian now in the driver’s seat, Lovlina aimed to up the tempo and attack her opponent to go for the kill. But, Qian was aware of the same and came out with even more aggression, as it seemed like their plan to was get i over with as soon as possible.
And depsite Lovlina’s best efforts, as she landed her signature left jabs, the judges decided that Li Quan reigned supreme in this bout and hence, China went home with the Gold in an unianimous decision.
Heartbreak for Lovlina, perhaps. But, the boxer went down fighting valiantly as she earned her first-ever Asian Games medal as well.
This is the first silver medal for an Indian women’s boxer at Asian Games previously Marykom has won the gold medal in 2014, Incheon South Korea.
The Indian boxing team ended their Asian Games 2022 campaign with 5 medals (1 Silver, 4 Bronze). The boxers also earned 4 boxing quotas for the Paris Olympics.
Her win takes India’s total tally at this edition of the Asian Games to 74 medals, with 16 Gold, 27 Silver and 31 Bronze so far.
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