Lovlina Borgohain Celebrates Birthday with Historic Asian Games Boxing Gold

Lovlina Borgohain has made history by winning gold in women's boxing at the Asian Games, marking India's first gold in this category in 12 years. Defeating China's Ziyi Bao in a unanimous decision, Lovlina celebrated her birthday with this remarkable achievement. She becomes only the second Indian woman to claim an Asian Games boxing gold, following the legendary MC Mary Kom. Lovlina's journey in the final was filled with determination and skill, showcasing her ability to overcome challenges in the ring. Read on to discover more about her inspiring victory and the details of the match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 2, 2026, 12:25 IST

Lovlina's Golden Victory at the Asian Games

Lovlina Borgohain, one of India's most celebrated boxers, marked a significant milestone by securing the country's first Asian Games women's boxing gold in 12 years. She achieved this remarkable feat by defeating China's Ziyi Bao in the 75kg final, coinciding perfectly with her birthday on Friday.

The Olympic bronze medalist triumphed over the 20-year-old Bao with a unanimous 5-0 decision, elevating her from the silver medal she earned in the previous edition of the Games.

With this victory, Lovlina joins the ranks of legendary boxer MC Mary Kom as only the second Indian woman to win an Asian Games boxing gold. Mary Kom had previously claimed the flyweight (51kg) title during the 2014 Asian Games held in Incheon.

"Today is my birthday, and it feels incredibly special. I aimed to gift myself a gold medal, and for the first time, I truly feel like I’ve received a present. I gave it my all and never doubted my ability to win," Lovlina expressed after her victory.

Reflecting on the match, she noted, "It was a challenging fight, but my focus was solely on winning. The last round was particularly tough. I was ahead 2-1 in the first two rounds, so I knew I had to secure the third round to clinch the win.

Facing a strong opponent for the first time, Lovlina had to motivate herself throughout the bout, determined not to let the opportunity slip away.

Utilizing her height advantage effectively, Lovlina faced Bao, who attempted to close the gap and limit her space. This led to a somewhat chaotic match, with Bao frequently clinching.

In a shift from her usual strategy, Lovlina began the fight aggressively, landing several punches early on, while Bao responded with fierce counters.

The Chinese southpaw managed to connect with a few combinations, but Lovlina finished the first round strongly, edging it 3-2.

In the second round, Bao came out aggressively, trying to close the distance, while Lovlina focused on maintaining her range to create opportunities for her punches.

As the round progressed, Lovlina found her rhythm, landing a series of clean shots to win it 4-1 on the judges' scorecards.

The final round followed a similar pattern, with Bao throwing numerous punches but struggling to connect cleanly. Lovlina maintained a compact defense and chose her moments to counter.

With a solid lead established, Lovlina slowed the pace in the final moments, opting to keep Bao at bay and successfully navigating the contest to victory.