Published on Oct 2/2026
GUWAHATI: It was a birthday celebration like no other for Lovlina Borgohain, who gifted herself the biggest prize of her career — an Asian Games gold medal.
On her 29th birthday, the Indian boxer defeated China’s Ziyi Bao 5-0 by unanimous decision to clinch the women’s 75kg gold medal, turning a special day into a landmark moment in her career.
Lovlina made a measured start but gradually found her rhythm, using her experience to control the pace and dictate the contest. The victory saw her upgrade the silver she won at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games to gold.
Lovlina became only the second Indian woman boxer, after Mary Kom at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, to win an Asian Games gold medal. She also created history by becoming the first Indian woman boxer to reach the Asian Games final twice.
Speaking after the bout, an emotional Lovlina said the gold was the perfect birthday present.
“It’s a very special birthday, and I think it is the best gift I could present to myself on my birthday,” she said.
Reflecting on the difficult phase she endured in recent years, Lovlina revealed that she had even contemplated walking away from boxing.
“I had spent some tough times in the recent past, and at one point, I even thought of quitting boxing. From that point, winning the gold is something very special for me,” she said.
Meanwhile, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh hailed Lovlina’s historic achievement and praised her for reaching two Asian Games finals.
“It was a very tough match, and we are absolutely delighted. It is really a historic win. Lovlina is the first woman boxer to reach two Asian Games finals, something even the great Mary Kom did not achieve. So, we are very, very proud of her,” Singh told the media.