Lovlina Borgohain Remembers Nana Patekar: A Heartfelt Tribute from the Asian Games Champion
Lovlina Borgohain Honors Nana Patekar
Golaghat (Assam) [India], October 8: Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who recently clinched a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, expressed her sorrow over the passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar, who passed away at the age of 75 on Thursday. She shared that her aspiration to meet him remained unfulfilled and labeled his death as a significant loss for the Indian film industry.
Patekar succumbed to a severe cardiac arrest in Goa. Despite efforts by medical staff at Manipal Hospital to revive him for approximately 45 minutes, he could not be saved. Dr. Shekhar Salkar, the Chief of the Oncology Department at the hospital, confirmed the unfortunate news.
Dr. Salkar revealed that Patekar had sent a message to a friend around 2:30 am indicating he was feeling unwell, and the friend arrived at his home by 4 am.
Following her gold medal victory in Japan, Borgohain was honored in her hometown of Bokakhat by Assam Minister Atul Bora.
During the ceremony, Borgohain reflected on her admiration for Patekar, stating that she was deeply saddened by his death. She reminisced about her childhood dreams of meeting him, which never materialized. She emphasized that his passing is a tremendous loss for both the film industry and the nation.
“I received the news just before arriving here. It feels like a significant dream has ended. Since my childhood, I have admired him. His unique style was well-known, and I regret that I never got to meet him. This is devastating news for our country; his absence is a great loss to the Indian film industry,” she remarked.
On a celebratory note, Borgohain marked her 29th birthday by winning gold in the women's 75 kg final against China's Bao Ziyi with a score of 5-0, making history as India’s first gold medalist in this category.
She expressed gratitude to the people of Assam for their warm reception and pledged to continue striving for more victories. Borgohain encouraged young athletes to work diligently and bring pride to Assam and the nation.
“It’s wonderful to be back in Bokakhat and receive such a heartfelt welcome. The love I’m experiencing is overwhelming, and I aim to keep winning medals and earning this affection. I urge all young players to work hard and make Assam and our country proud,” she concluded.