Lovlina Borgohain dominates Mexican opponent to start Women’s Boxing World Championships campaign
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain got off to a winning start in the Women’s Boxing World Championships. The bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics was too good for her Mexican opponent Vanessa Ortiz in the 75kg round-of-16 bout. Borgohain, who is aiming to add another medal to her collection in this edition of the tournament, displayed her sharpness and agility throughout the bout, landing strong uppercuts and hooks to take control of the fight. She carried the momentum into the second round, keeping her opponent at bay with persistent attacks and smart footwork.
“I’m not that happy with my performance today as I think I could have done much better, and I will improve in my next bout,” Borgohain said after the match. She added, “As this is my first World Championships in the 75kg category, it is a bit tough as all other boxers have been playing in this category since before, but I believe that I can do well.”
Borgohain is the first female athlete and the second boxer from her state to represent India at the Olympics. She was also awarded the Arjuna Award in 2020, becoming the sixth person from Assam to receive the prestigious sporting honour.
Sakshi wins pre-quarter-final bout with commanding performance
In another bout, India’s Sakshi defeated Kazakhstan’s Zhazira Urakbayeva in the 52kg category pre-quarter-final. The 23-year-old boxer from Haryana dominated her Kazakh opponent with her quick movement and smart attacking strategy to seal the victory comfortably by unanimous decision.
“The boxer from Kazakhstan was tough, so I thought that the fight scores may go up or down, but after following the strategy of the coaches and BFI, I could play well and could further dominate the bout to win by 5-0. Moreover, the people that have come to cheer further motivated me to win. My confidence is growing as the bouts progress so through the vigour and the passion that I currently possess, I am definitely focused on clinching the gold,” Sakshi said after the match.
In the 54kg category, Preeti put up a strong fight against Jitpong Jutamas of Thailand but went down fighting 3-4 in a closely-contested encounter after the bout was reviewed. The 19-year-old Indian could not replicate the result from her last bout where she had toppled the top-seed Perijoc Lacramiora of Romania.
Six Indian boxers set to compete in pre-quarterfinals on Tuesday
Six Indians, including the reigning world champion Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Nitu Ghanghas (48kg), Manisha Moun (57kg), Jaismine Lamboriya (60kg), Shashi Chopra (63kg) and Manju Bamboriya (66kg), will compete in the pre-quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The on-going prestigious event is witnessing the participation of 324 boxers, including several Olympic medallists, from 65 countries fighting for titles in the 12 weight categories. The tournament has a massive prize pool of INR 20 crore.
India has a rich history in boxing and has produced several world-class boxers over the years. The country’s boxers have been performing well on the international stage, and with the Tokyo Olympics, the sport has gained more popularity in the country. The Women’s Boxing World Championships is another platform for Indian boxers to showcase their talent and bring laurels to the country. With the likes of Lovlina Borgohain and Sakshi in the mix, India’s chances of winning more medals look bright.
