India at Tokyo Olympics: Boxer Lovlina Borgohain into the semi finals of welterweight division, confirms medal for the country
Xtra Time Web Desk: A day after the disappointment of Mary Kom getting knocked out of Tokyo Olympics, Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain made India proud by sealing a medal in boxing women’s welterweight division on Friday. Lovlina defeated former World Champion, Taipei’s Nien Chin Chen by 4-1 verdict to storm in the semis.
Borgohain who got a bye in Rd 1 got the better of German pugilist Nadine Apetz at the Kokugikan Arena in Rd 2 on Tuesday. She won by a split decision verdict to move into the quarter-finals.
The 23-year-old boxer from Assam had a tough fight winning the first round 3-2 against Chen. She made a clean sweep in the second round. Lovlina was dominant in the final round too as she won it 4-1 to eventually win by a split decision margin of 4-1.
Lovlina will become the second Indian woman after the legendary Mary Kom to win an Olympic medal. Mary Kom, who had won the bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics, lost her round of 16 match at Tokyo on Thursday.
Vijender Singh won India's first ever boxing medal, a bronze, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Meanwhile, Simranjit Kaur (60kg) lost to Thailand's Sudaporn Seesondee in the pre-quarterfinals to make an early exit from the Olympic Games. The 26-year-old Indian, seeded fourth, went down 0-5 despite a gritty performance.
