Asian Games 2023: Lovlina Borgohain Clinches Silver In 75Kg Boxing

In the 2023 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China, India's Lovlina Borgohain clinched the silver medal in the women's 75kg boxing category. Prior to this achievement, Borgohain secured an Olympic quota by advancing to the final on October 3.

Final Bout

In the final match, Borgohain, who holds the title of reigning world champion and has previously won Olympic medals, was defeated by the hometown favourite Li Qian through a unanimous decision. This loss marked the conclusion of India's boxing campaign at the Asian Games 2023.

As reported by the Olympics Association, during the bout, Li Qian, a former world champion with two Olympic medals to her name, took an offensive stance right from the beginning. However, the Indian boxer skillfully avoided most of Li Qian's punches. In the first round, Borgohain successfully connected with a powerful right-hand punch and a few jabs. This strong performance left both boxers with minimal difference between their scores.

In the second round, Borgohain had a point deducted due to excessive clinching, which ultimately tilted the fight in favour of Li Qian. Despite Borgohain's efforts to take the offensive, the Chinese boxer skillfully evaded her attacks and also landed some effective counterpunches, ultimately securing her victory in the match.

Further Details

Borgohain's silver medal at the Asian Games boxing tournament marks a historic achievement as the first for an Indian woman in this event. In 2014, Mary Kom claimed the gold medal in Incheon.

On the other hand, Li Qian, who previously won silver in Incheon 2014, earned her first gold medal at the Asian Games, while Borgohain secured a silver medal in her debut appearance at this quadrennial continental competition.

Interestingly, earlier this year, Lovlina Borgohain faced Li Qian in the semi-finals of the world championships, where the Indian emerged victorious with a 4:1 split decision.

Furthermore, it's worth noting that Lovlina Borgohain, an Olympic medalist and world champion, has secured a quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics by reaching the final in the women's 75kg category.

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