Olympics: Lovlina Borgohain reaches boxing quarter-final, one win away from medal
Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain stormed into the quarter-finals of the women’s 75kg event after defeating Norwegian pugilist Sunniva Hofstad at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Borgohain made a strong start at the Paris 2024 Olympics, beating Norway’s Hofstad unanimously 5:0 in the women’s 75kg round of 16 bout on Wednesday.
Borgohain, a bronze medallist in the 69kg category at Tokyo 2020, entered her first 75kg Olympic tournament as the eighth seed. In contrast, the 20-year-old Hofstad, making her Summer Games debut, opted for an aggressive strategy in the initial rounds.
However, the 27-year-old Borgohain displayed excellent defensive skills, effortlessly parrying Hofstad’s punches while countering with poise and even a smile. Despite an improved performance from the Norwegian in the third round, Borgohain’s experience and precision secured her a clear victory. Her composed demeanor and skillful execution were evident as she left the ring with a smile, signaling a promising start in her new weight class.
Borgohain, who previously clinched a bronze in the 69kg category at the Tokyo Olympics, demonstrated her adaptability and prowess in the 75kg division. The reigning Asian Games silver medallist and world champion dominated the bout, advancing to the quarterfinals. In the next round, Borgohain will face top-seeded Chinese boxer Li Qian, a silver medallist in the middleweight division at the Tokyo Games. The highly anticipated quarterfinal clash is scheduled for August 4, with both athletes eyeing a spot in the semifinals. As Borgohain’s quest for another Olympic medal continues, a win against Qian would move her closer to achieving consecutive podium finishes, solidifying her reputation as one of India’s premier boxing talents.
PANGHAL, JAISMINE, PREETI OUT
Amit Panghal was eliminated from the men’s 51kg boxing event at the Paris 2024 Olympics after losing to Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba at the North Paris Arena on Tuesday. Chinyemba, the third seed and a two-time African champion, won by a 4-1 split decision, using his height and quick footwork to keep Panghal at bay. Panghal had previously defeated Chinyemba 5-0 in the Commonwealth Games 2022 semifinals but struggled against him this time. The Zambian’s strategy and maturity proved too much for Panghal, who was edged out in the first two rounds and couldn’t recover in the final round.
Jaismine Lamboria also exited the tournament after losing in the women’s 57kg category to Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines, a Tokyo 2020 silver medallist and former world champion. Despite trying to use her height advantage, Jaismine was outmatched by Petecio’s speed and agility, resulting in a 5-0 unanimous decision. Jaismine, competes in the 60kg category, is a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist.