Lovlina Borgohain Wins Gold on Her Birthday at Asian Games 2026
Historic Victory for Lovlina Borgohain
Lovlina with her coaches after her bout
Guwahati, Oct 2: On her birthday, Assam's Lovlina Borgohain achieved a remarkable milestone by securing a gold medal in the women's 75kg boxing event at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
The bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics triumphed over China's Bao Ziyi, who is the current gold medalist from the 2026 Asian Championships, winning by a unanimous 5-0 decision in the final held at Nishio Gymnasium.
This victory makes Lovlina the second Indian woman boxer to earn an Asian Games gold, following in the footsteps of the iconic Mary Kom, who accomplished this in 2014. Additionally, this win represents a significant upgrade from her silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022.
Lovlina's path to gold was marked by impressive performances, starting with a decisive 5-0 win against South Korea's Seong Suyeon in the quarterfinals, which guaranteed her a medal.
In the semifinals, she faced a formidable opponent in Kazakhstan's reigning World Champion Natalya Bogdanova, narrowly winning 3-2 in a split decision to secure her spot in the final.
Her commanding victory over Bao Ziyi concluded a stellar campaign, adding another significant achievement to her boxing career.
Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Lovlina on her success, describing the gold medal as a unique birthday gift and a source of pride for both the state and the nation.
“Our Golden Girl punches it off in style. Congratulations Lovlina Borgohain on bagging GOLD in the 75kg Boxing category at the Asian Games. There can be no bigger gift to oneself on a birthday than bagging the ultimate honour for the country. We are so proud of you Lovlina! The nation is proud of you and celebrates this achievement. Assam awaits your glorious return,” Sarma expressed on social media.