Lovlina Borgohain wins women's 75kg Asian Games boxing gold on her 29th birthday
Lovlina Borgohain won the women's 75 kg boxing gold at the Asian Games on her 29th birthday, defeating China's Ziyi Bao by unanimous decision. She became the first women's boxer since Mary Kom in 2014 to secure an Asian Games gold.
Borgohain entered the final having already become the first Indian woman to reach back-to-back Asian Games finals and after taking silver at the previous Games in Hangzhou she was determined to change the colour of the medal. The 29-year-old began the gold-medal contest aggressively and used her physical advantages from the opening bell.
Using height and reach to her benefit, Borgohain landed blows to Bao's face before moving into clinches early in the bout. Bao came into the match unbeaten in amateur competition and on a 14-fight winning run, and she gradually fought back with heavy body shots and closer-range punching that put Borgohain on the defensive. Three of the five judges scored the first round in favour of the Indian, recorded 3-2.
Bao opened the second round more aggressively while Borgohain relied on jabs and hooks rather than uppercuts; a jab from Bao briefly put Borgohain on the ropes and prompted another clinch. Borgohain found a few late blows that impressed the judges and the second round was scored 4-1 to the Indian.
The final round saw Borgohain adopt a more defensive posture, controlling the ring and allowing Bao to commit to stronger strikes. When the decision was read out the result appeared settled, the Indian contingent cheered and Borgohain celebrated with her corner.
As the Indian contingent delivered multiple gold medals, Lovlina was forced to settle for a silver medal after her loss to Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree. "I have taken the positives from Glasgow, studied what I could have done better and now I want to work on those areas in training. The Asian Games will be another big challenge, and my focus is on being more complete and consistent in the ring," Lovlina told India Today ahead of the Asian Games.
With this victory Borgohain converted the silver she had taken at Hangzhou into gold at this edition of the Asian Games.
