Prior to Friday, only Mary Kom, an Olympic bronze medalist from the London Games, had secured an Asian Games gold medal for Indian female boxers. However, Lovlina Borgohain, a bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, made history by winning the gold in the women’s 75kg final with a decisive 5-0 victory over Ziyi on Friday morning. Remarkably, this achievement coincided with her birthday and followed a challenging series of matches in an eight-boxer tournament. The boxer from Assam began her journey with a 5-0 triumph over Seong Su-yeon from Korea in the quarter-finals and subsequently edged out reigning 70kg world champion Natalya Bogdanova of Kazakhstan with a 3-2 split decision before claiming victory in the final.
“I have dedicated 15 years to boxing, and my goal has always been to finish on the podium. However, hearing the national anthem is an extraordinary experience. There have been times when I struggled to secure a gold medal. Following the Tokyo Olympics, I faced both triumphs and setbacks, but this year, my aim was to change the color of my Asian Games medal. I approached the competition with the mindset of having nothing to lose and a determination to win,” Lovlina expressed to the media after her victory.
In the semi-finals against Bogdanova, Lovlina faced a tough challenge, losing two rounds yet managing to win the second round 5-0, ultimately securing a 3-2 split-decision win. The final was equally competitive, with Lovlina edging out her Chinese opponent in the first round with a 3-2 score before extending her lead to 4-1 in the second round. She sealed the victory in the final round with another 4-1 win, resulting in a unanimous decision of 5-0.
“We anticipated that the Chinese boxer would come out strong and aim for powerful punches. The key for Lovlina was maintaining distance in her punches, which is one of her strengths, while avoiding heavy hits from Ziyi. She executed clear punches effectively, particularly her left jab and straight right, showcasing her skills in the second round. When the Chinese boxer applied pressure, Lovlina utilized her side-step left hook to gain an advantage. I prefer that Lovlina avoids getting too close, as it led to a chaotic moment in the final seconds of the third round. Nevertheless, she performed well enough to secure the win,” stated Santiago Nieva, head coach of Indian women’s boxing, in an interview with The Indian Express.
In recent years, Lovlina has achieved notable successes, including winning the Asian title in 2022, earning a silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, and claiming the 2023 World title in the 75kg category. However, her journey at the 2024 Paris Olympics saw her exit in the quarter-finals against Chinese boxer Li Qian, and she also faced a setback in the Commonwealth Games final against Emma-Sue Greentree of Australia. With the upcoming World Championships poised to offer qualification spots for the LA Olympics, Nieva recognizes the challenges ahead for Lovlina.
“Although she has experienced fluctuations in her performance, she has consistently been a top contender in terms of world medals and now this gold. The competition at the Asian Games is fierce, featuring some hard-hitting opponents. Lovlina has previously won a world title, and now the focus is on controlling her bouts from the outset and preventing any disarray. She is most effective when she lands clean punches. Overall, Lovlina delivered a commendable performance, and the next objectives are the World Championships and securing an Olympic quota,” Nieva added.
Nitin Sharma serves as an Assistant Editor on the sports team at The Indian Express. Based in Chandigarh, he contributes to both the print and online sports sections, reporting breaking news stories. In 2017, he was honored with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award for his article ‘Harmans of Moga’ and has received the UNFPA-supported Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity three times (2022, 2023, 2024). His most recent Laadli Award, received in November 2025, recognized an article on Deepthi Jeevanji, who achieved India’s first gold medal at the World Athletics Para Championship despite facing childhood taunts.
Nitin primarily focuses on Olympic sports, with particular interests in shooting, boxing, wrestling, athletics, and more. His 17-year tenure at The Indian Express has allowed him to uncover stories from various regions across India, from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the Northeast. He also covers cricket, including women’s cricket, with great enthusiasm. His experience encompasses major events such as the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2011 ODI World Cup, the 2016 T20 World Cup, and the 2017 AIBA World Youth Boxing Championships.
An alumnus of the School of Communication Studies at Panjab University, Nitin holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communications and is also an avid quiz enthusiast. His quizzing journey began in Talwara Township, a small town near the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border. When he is not reporting, Nitin enjoys exploring new trekking routes in the mountains or spending leisure time by the river Beas in his hometown.
