Anilava Chatterjee, Tokyo: Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who lost her semi final bout to Busenaz Sürmeneli of Turkey is disappointed not to win gold for the country. The boxer from Assam on Wednesday said she was confident of going through to the final.
“I feel disappointing for having to settle for a bronze. I don’t know why every time I have to settle for bronze. I feel very bad.”
She added, “It’s okay at least I could win a medal for the country. I would have been much happier had I made it to the final. I worked hard to win a gold medal and I was hundred percent confident of winning the gold here,” said Lovlina talking to the media persons after her bout in Tokyo.
Lovlina lost her semi final bout to reigning world champion Busenaz Sürmeneli of Turkey in women’s 69kg category. Busenaz dominated all the three rounds to be declared unanimous winner by 5:0 margin. Talking about her strategy against Busenaz, Lovlina said, “I knew she will pose a good fight as she is the world champion. She was strong too. I took an offensive strategy because had I been defensive then she would have landed more punches on me. So I thought of playing offensive keeping a distance. Sadly though I could not win today.”
“I had analyzed her bout as she jumps and come at you. My strategy was to dash her confidence initially. All I kept in mind was if I get hit, I will also return it back to her,” added Lovlina.
Lovlina is the only medal winner for the country from boxing at the Tokyo Olympics. There were high hopes on Mary Kom, Amit Panghal, but as it turned out it was the 23 year old who made the country proud by winning bronze.
“Yes, they had high hopes of winning a medal. Since I started boxing I always dreamt of winning gold for the country at the Olympics. I planned my training schedule keeping Olympics as a target. I am happy that I won a medal but I am disappointed because I hoped for doing even better,” said Lovlina.
On being asked what has she learnt from the loss to Busenaz, Lovlina said, “Previously I lacked self belief. Whenever I entered the ring I used to be scared of myself. Now when I go in for a bout I am not afraid at all. I am more confident now.”
Lovlina has already set her next target at 2024 Olympics in Paris. She had made a lot of sacrifice in her journey so far.
“I have started boxing in 2012. I stayed away from my home. I did not my favoutite food thinking that it would affect my preparation. All I only aimed was to do well in Olympics. I have not travelled anywhere so far. I have made a lot of struggle to do well for the country,” said Lovlina.
Lovlina has now joined Mirabai Chanu and PV Sindhu to win a medal for the country from Tokyo Olympics. She hoped more and more women and girls will be inspired to take sport in the country.
“Still there is a lot of difference between men and women in India. The women are still not brave enough to come forward. I think the performance from us will inspire more and more girls to take up the sport, not just boxing. It will give the belief in the women that they can also compete with the men”
She want to dedicate the medal to the entire country, her parents, her coaches at SAI, Boxing Federation and to her sponsors. Lovlina wants her coach Sandhya Gurung, who groomed her into a boxer awarded the Dronacharya award.
“Her name was applied for Dronacharya award a long time back. No women have got a Dronacharya award in boxing. My only wish will be to see her get the Dronacharya award.”