Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK : One of the biggest names in Indian boxing, Lovlina Borgohain has finally ended her wait for an Asian Games gold medal. The boxer from Assam, who has won medals for India at several major international competitions, produced a dominant performance in the women’s 75kg event and clinched the gold medal on Friday morning. She controlled the final from the outset and comfortably overcame her Chinese opponent to add another major achievement to her decorated career.

Lovlina has been one of the leading figures in Indian boxing since winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics, becoming only the third Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal. Since then, she has established herself as one of the prominent faces of Indian boxing. However, an Asian Games gold medal had remained missing from her collection. At the previous Asian Games, she had to settle for a silver medal, but this time she went all the way to the top.

The Assam boxer had shown her intent from the very beginning of the competition. On the morning of her 29th birthday, Lovlina stepped into the ring for the biggest fight of the tournament, facing China’s Xiyi Bao in the women’s 75kg final. With the gold medal at stake, Lovlina never allowed her opponent to settle into the contest. She maintained the pressure with a series of aggressive punches and produced a commanding performance to secure the gold for India.

Lovlina’s victory brought India its 12th gold medal of the Asian Games. Her achievement came as part of a highly productive start to the 13th day of competition, with Indian athletes continuing to add medals across different disciplines.

India’s first gold medal of the day came from archery. The women’s team in the recurve event faced a formidable South Korean side, with South Korea being the reigning world champions and having won Olympic gold in the discipline on multiple occasions. Despite the challenge and difficult conditions caused by strong winds, India’s Kumkum Anil Mohat, Ankita Bhakat and Kirti Sharma held their nerve and secured the gold medal.

The triumph was particularly significant as it marked India’s first Asian Games gold medal in recurve archery. The Indian archery contingent continued its successful run in the mixed recurve event as well, where the team went on to win a silver medal.

India also added medals in sailing. Netra Kumanan won a bronze medal in the women’s dinghy event, while another bronze medal came in the women’s skiff event. India had finished fourth in the skiff event on Thursday, but the final standings changed after China was disqualified following the conclusion of the competition. As a result, Harshita Tomar and Sheetal Verma were awarded the bronze medal.

The continuing medal rush has strengthened India’s position in the Asian Games standings. At the latest count, India had won 70 medals, including 12 gold medals, and was placed sixth in the overall medal table.

For Lovlina Borgohain, however, the gold medal carries a special significance. After winning Olympic bronze and an Asian Games silver, the elusive Asian Games title had remained one of the major gaps in her international record. On her 29th birthday, she finally filled that gap with a dominant performance in the ring, giving India another memorable gold medal and adding to the country’s growing medal tally.