Highlight:
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain advances to the quarter-finals of the women’s 75kg event at Paris 2024, setting up a challenging match against top seed Li Qian of China.
Detailed Article:
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain comfortably advanced to the quarter-finals of the women’s 75kg boxing event at the Paris 2024 Olympics but faces a formidable opponent in her quest to secure a medal.
Borgohain, seeded eighth, defeated the unseeded Sunniva Hofstad of Norway by unanimous decision on Wednesday.
The Norwegian boxer started aggressively, but Borgohain, a bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020 in the now-defunct 69kg category, expertly averted the attacks. The 26-year-old Indian then took control with some crucial blows and continued to dominate.
Borgohain was the superior boxer in the opening six minutes, and all five judges ruled in her favour. Despite a fightback from Hofstad in the final three minutes, Borgohain maintained her composure and secured a 5:0 victory.
Lovlina Borgohain is now one win away from assuring herself a medal, as boxing awards two bronze medals. However, she faces a steep challenge ahead.
Borgohain will face top seed Li Qian of the People’s Republic of China in the quarter-finals on Sunday. These boxers have met in two major events last year – the Asian Games final and the World Championships semi-final.
Li Qian, a two-time Olympic medallist, won the Asian Games final in Hangzhou, while Borgohain emerged victorious in the World Championships semi-finals in New Delhi.
Only two other Indian boxers remain in contention for a medal at Paris 2024.
Nishant Dev will be in action later in the day, fighting Jose Rodriguez Tenorio of Ecuador in the men’s 71kg round of 16.
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen will face reigning world champion Wu Yu of China in the women’s 50kg round of 16 on Thursday.
