Guwahati: Expectations are rising across Assam as Olympic medalist pugilist Lovlina Borgohain, who hails from Baro Mukhia village in upper Assam’s Golaghat district, prepares to take on China’s Bao Ziyi in the Asian Games final on Oct 2, her 29th birthday, with the gold medal at stake.Borgohain, who won silver at the 2022 Asian Games, defeated Kazakhstan’s Natalya Bogdanova in the women’s 75kg semifinal on Wednesday.Her parents are hoping she can go one step further this time and change the colour of her medal.Lovlina’s father, Tiken Borgohain, told TOI: “She made a video call to us after she won the medal and she was very happy and looked confident for the final as well. Like any other parents, we also expect that she will bring gold this time.”Tiken Borgohain spoke to TOI from a naamghar, a traditional prayer house and community centre in Assam, near the family’s home in Baro Mukhia village, where he had gone to listen to a Mahabharata recital on Wednesday.He said it was significant that Lovlina would step into the ring for the final on her birthday. “We are hoping that she will get the best birthday gift this time,” he said.He added that she had appeared slightly weak in her last two bouts, including Wednesday’s semifinal. “She is currently on a diet in order to maintain her weight. Otherwise, it will be a problem if she gains more weight. That is why she played the last two matches in a slight weak health condition,” he said.Union shipping minister and former Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal congratulated Borgohain in a post on X, writing: “Heartiest congratulations to Lovlina Borgohain on securing a place in the Women’s 75kg Boxing Final. It is a matter of immense pride to see her display such relentless grit and poise in the ring to guarantee another medal for India.”Assam cabinet minister Jayanta Mallabaruah also posted on X: “Something special about watching Lovlina fight… the grit, the calm, the refusal to give up. Yet another hard-fought 3–2 victory, and our girl is through to the Asian Games final. Proud of you, Lovlina Borgohain. One more fight. One more step. Bring it home this time.”
