Lovlina Borgohain Faces Weight Class Change Ahead of 2028 Olympics

Lovlina Borgohain's Weight Class Dilemma

Lovlina Borgohain, a medallist from the Tokyo Olympics, may need to shift to the 70kg weight category following the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to eliminate her current 75kg class for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Games. This change compels her to select a new weight division.

On Wednesday, the IOC revealed the event schedule and athlete quotas for the LA Games. As a result of this adjustment, Borgohain faces the choice of either dropping to 70kg or increasing her weight to the +80kg category.

“This is completely new information for me, and it’s quite surprising,” Borgohain expressed. “I believe I will have to transition to 70kg since moving up to +80kg seems challenging for me.”

Her coach, Pranamika Bora, also expressed surprise at the news but noted that the final decision would depend on a series of fitness and medical evaluations. “It’s premature to make any commitments. She has the height to compete in the +80kg category as well,” Bora mentioned. “However, we will conduct tests to determine the best approach for her body, whether it’s cutting weight or bulking up.”

Currently, Borgohain weighs 74kg naturally, and Bora emphasized that excessive weight loss could compromise her strength.

This is not the first instance where Borgohain has had to change categories due to adjustments in the Olympic program. Prior to the Paris Games, she moved up from her preferred 69kg division to 75kg after the former was removed from the Olympic lineup.