From Tokyo to Nagoya: Lovlina Borgohain's Long Journey to the Top of the Podium

NEW DELHI: Lovlina Borgohain’s Asian Games gold was not just a medal improvement over last year’s silver. It was the latest marker in a 15-year career that has taken the Assam boxer through Olympic successes, injuries, tough phases and a mentally demanding Paris 2024 campaign.At the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Borgohain finally turned the color of an Asian Games medal, defeating China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the women’s 75kg final. The win on her 29th birthday made her only the second Indian after MC Mary Kom to win boxing gold at the Asian Games – 12 years after Kom’s triumph in 2014.For Borgohain, however, the significance of gold went beyond history books.“It’s still hard to get over this moment. I still have the gold medal in my hand,” said a beaming Borgohain, holding up the gold medal next to her face. “It’s a very special moment for me. I can’t express how I feel,” she continued while speaking to TimesofIndia.com after returning from Japan.Borgohain finished silver at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, losing to China’s Li Qian in the final. Three years later, she returned to the continental scene determined to go one step further.

I won a silver medal in the last Asian Games and this time I won a gold medal. That’s why it’s so special. And to do it on my birthday is special

Lovlina Borgohain

Her path to gold in Nagoya was not straightforward. She started with a 5-0 quarter-final win over South Korea’s Seong Su-yeon before defeating reigning 70kg world champion Natalya Bogdanova of Kazakhstan 3-2 in a tight semi-final. In the final, she won 5:0 over Ziya.The contrast with Hangzhou made the medal particularly significant.“Every event is very important. We believe the Asian Games medal is the highest after the Olympics. I think this medal shines among all medals. The color has changed. This medal means a lot to me,” said Borgohain.

New Delhi: 2026 Asian Games gold medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain poses for photographers after arriving at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in New Delhi, early Sunday, October 4, 2026. (PTI Photo) (PTI10_04_2026_000011B)

“In the last Asian Games, I won a silver medal and this time I got a gold medal. That’s why it’s so special. And to do it on my birthday is special.”The victory also continued the curious connection between Borgohain and Japan. Five years ago, Tokyo brought her an Olympic bronze medal—a breakthrough that changed the trajectory of her career.“I was very excited because I was going to Japan again. I won a medal at the 2020 Olympics in Japan and my life changed because of it,” she said.“I had a positive mindset before I left India. I wanted to make it the best tournament of my life. I knew I could do it because Japan is lucky for me.”

My view hasn’t changed because of the medal. When I lose, my confidence stays the same. Sometimes I’m confident and sometimes I’m down. But I’m the same person I was before

Lovlina Borgohain

“Everything is a mind game”

The gold also resembled Borgohain’s ability to rebuild.Her career hasn’t been straight since the Tokyo Olympics. Injuries, changes in form and the disappointment of the Paris Olympics tested her, while the pressure that came with being an Olympic medalist added another layer to the challenge.However, Borgohain does not see the Asian Games gold as something that fundamentally changed her.“I don’t think I look at myself differently because of this medal. I’ve won and lost a lot of medals. People’s perspective changes because of a medal. But in my own eyes, I’m always the same,” she said.

New Delhi: 2026 Asian Games gold medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain poses for photographers after arriving at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi, early Sunday, October 4, 2026. (PTI Photo) (PTI10_04_2026_000007A)

“My outlook hasn’t changed because of the medal. When I lose, my confidence remains the same. Sometimes I’m confident and sometimes I’m down. But I’m the same person I was before.”That mindset became especially important after Paris 2024, when she failed to reach the medal rounds. Borgohain describes the period as one of the most difficult phases of his career.“I have a 15-year journey behind me. Every time I go to a competition, my mindset is different. When we play, we will reach for a medal. It is not easy to recover from a difficult period. The Paris Olympics in 2024 were not easy for me mentally,” she said.“But I think everything is a mind game. It depends on how you look at it. If we take the hard things lightly, it becomes easy. If we take the easy things hard, it becomes difficult. I think it helped me a lot to stay calm and relaxed.”

It is very important for athletes, because thanks to this medal I qualify for the World Championships. I get a good treat otherwise I would have to play Nationals and follow the same process

Lovlina Borgohain

Borgohain qualifies for the World Championship

Winning the Asian Games also gave Borgohain a more direct path to the next stage of her career. Gold means she qualifies for the World Championships instead of having to go through the national selection route. A strong performance could also put her on the path to another Olympic qualification.“It matters a lot for the athletes because this medal qualifies me for the world championships. I get a good treat, otherwise I would have to play nationals and follow the same process,” she said.

Nishio: India’s Lovlina Borgohain in blue competes against China’s Ziya Bao during the women’s 75kg boxing match at the 20th Asian Games in Nishio, Aichi, Japan. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma) (PTI10_02_2026_000066A) *** Local Description ***

“So that’s a big advantage of the medal and it boosts my confidence that I can be better. If I do well there, I can qualify for the Olympics as well.”For now, however, Borgohain is resisting the temptation to look too far ahead.“There’s a lot of planning. But not everything is the same. I live in the present. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I’ll try to live like this. I feel good. I’ll try to live like this.”

“Young athletes have a stronger mindset”

Borgohain’s gold was part of a strong boxing campaign for India at the Asian Games. India finished the competition with six boxing medals, including three golds, with Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal also winning their finals.

Our Indian team won the Asian Games. I think our athletes are very strong. Their mentality is very good. Before we thought we couldn’t do it. But now our young athletes have the mindset that “we have to do it.”

Lovlina Borgohain

A few months ago, Indian boxers returned with 10 medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, including seven golds. No country has won more gold in boxing at a single edition of the CWG. It was also India’s biggest catch in the sport in the CWG.For Borgohain, the improvement reflects a wider change in the mentality of Indian boxers.“We performed very well. Both men and women did very well. Everyone knows the Commonwealth Games results. The Commonwealth Games results changed the results of Indian boxing,” she said.

Nishio: Lovlina Borgohain of India, in blue, after winning the gold medal in the women’s 75kg boxing final against China’s Ziya Bao at the 20th Asian Games in Nishio, Aichi, Japan. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma) (PTI10_02_2026_000058A) *** Local Description ***

“At the Asian Games, our Indian team came out on top. I think our athletes are very strong. Their mentality is very good. Earlier we thought we couldn’t do it. But now our young athletes have the mindset that ‘we have to do it’.”She also pointed to the support structure around the team, including government support and the environment created by the coaching staff led by Santiago Nieva.“A lot depends on the support of the government. They will not let us down. We are getting good competition. The environment of our foreign coaches led by Santiago (Nieva) is very positive. That is why we are achieving good results.”For Borgohain, then, the Asian Games gold is both an end and a beginning — the end of a 12-year wait since Mary Kom’s historic gold and the completion of a personal journey from Hangzhou silver to Nagoya gold.But he doesn’t take it as a goal. The next goal can wait. For now, she is content to live in the moment – with the gold medal still in hand.