Lovlina’s next fight is for gold at the Asian Games, but the road is more important

The silver medal in Glasgow did not leave Lovlina Borgohain with only regrets. It left her with questions.

What could she have done earlier? Which openings did she miss? Where did her rhythm go? And what would it take to make sure she gets away with those little moments next time?

At 28, Borgohain knows that a boxing career is rarely defined by one result. Tokyo gave her the joy of an Olympic breakthrough. Paris left her with a pang of disappointment. Glasgow gave her her first Commonwealth Games medal, but silver left her with unfinished business after losing to Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree.

Each tournament changed her in a different way. Each setback forced her to take a closer look at the boxer she was becoming. Lovlina won silver at CWG 2026, now chasing gold in Nagoya. (Photo: AP)

Now, as she prepares for another Asian Games campaign in the 75kg category, Borgohain brings with her the experience of a career that has already taken her to the podiums of the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

The medals have arrived. So ask the tough questions. However, the hunger remains.

Her final lesson came in Glasgow, where Borgohain won her first Commonwealth Games medal but had to settle for silver after losing to Greentree in the final. Rather than let the defeat fade, she returned to the fight, studying the moments she could have handled differently, turning the loss into preparation.

Now, with just eight boxers in the 75kg draw, Borgohain is one win away from another Asian Games medal. She will face South Korea’s Suyeon Seong and could face reigning 70kg world champion Natalya Bogdanova of Kazakhstan or bronze medalist Aziza Zokirova of Uzbekistan in the semi-finals.

But the boxer preparing for these Asian Games is not quite the same one who won Olympic bronze in the 69kg category in Tokyo.

The move to 75 kg forced her to adapt. The post-Paris period tested her resilience. And years of competing under the spotlight have taught her how to separate the noise surrounding the big tournament from the actual fight.

In an exclusive interaction with India Today, Borgohain opened up about the lessons from Glasgow, the difficult journey back after Paris, her development at 75kg, the expectations of representing India and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

SMALL MARGINS

Borgohain’s first Commonwealth Games medal came with silver in Glasgow. The final ended in disappointment, but it also gave her a lot of work to prepare for the Asian Games.

“The biggest takeaway from the Commonwealth Games final is that at this level, small things can make a difference. I felt I prepared well, but there are always areas where you can improve after a fight,” Borgohain told India Today.

“I took the positives from Glasgow, I studied what I could have done better and now I want to work on those areas in training. The Asian Games will be the next big challenge and I am focused on being more complete and consistent in the ring.” Lovlina is adamant that she will leave no stone unturned at the 2026 Asian Games. (Photo: PTI)

Looking back on the loss to Greentree, Borgohain believes she could have been more proactive and made better use of the opportunities that came her way.

“I think I could have been more proactive at certain stages of the fight and taken advantage of my opportunities better. Against a strong opponent, you can’t afford to let too many moments pass without making them count,” she said.

“I watched the fight with my team and understood where I can improve, especially in terms of creating chances and keeping rhythm. Losing in the final is disappointing, but it also gives you a very clear idea of ​​what you need to work on.”

This ability to look at defeat without being defined by it became one of the most important parts of Borgohain’s development.

FINDING THE WAY BACK

The period after the Paris Olympics tested Borgohain, with the boxer having to negotiate setbacks before finding her form again. She says the most important factor in getting through this phase was refusing to lose faith in herself.

“I think the most important thing was not to lose faith in yourself. Sport is never a straight line. There are good phases and difficult phases, but you have to keep working even if the results don’t come right away,” she said.

“I focused on my training, listened to my coaches and tried to take things one day at a time. My motivation always came from wanting to improve as a boxer and that helped me get through the tough times.”

Borgohain has now competed in two Olympics and several other major events. Compared to the boxer entering Tokyo 2020, she feels the experience has changed the way she handles the environment around a major tournament.

“The biggest change is my experience. Everything was new before Tokyo and there was a lot that I experienced for the first time. Now I have a much better understanding of what comes with competing at a big event, the attention, the expectations, the environment and the pressure,” she said. Lovla’s journey makes her story even more fruitful. (Photo: Reuters)

“I’ve learned to focus more on the fight itself than everything that’s going on around it. I think maturity has helped me.”

Representing India inevitably brings expectations, but Borgohain no longer sees them as something that should weigh her down.

“Expectations are a part of representing India and I see them as something positive. Of course there is pressure, but I try not to carry all that into the ring,” she said.

“Once the fight starts, it’s just me, my opponent and the plan we’ve been working on. Through experience, I’ve gotten better at separating external expectations from what I have to do as an athlete.”

NEW BOXER FOR 75KG

Borgohain’s transition from 69 kg to 75 kg was another important chapter in her career.

“Moving to 75kg changed a lot of things. At 69kg there were some advantages in terms of my physicality, but at 75kg I was facing opponents who could match my size, strength and reach,” she said.

“So I had to become more adaptable. My strength and endurance had to improve, and tactically I had to be more patient and smarter in terms of how I use my movement, reach and combinations.”

For Borgohain, the modification ultimately made her a better boxer.

“That move made me a more complete boxer.

Despite already having medals from all four major multisport events, Borgohain isn’t ready to consider her journey over.

“There are still big goals left. I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved, but I don’t think an athlete should feel like the journey is complete,” she said.

“Every medal has taught me something and also made me more hungry to achieve the next one. I’ve won medals at all these big events, but I still have things I want to do and that motivates me every day.”

So the move to 75 kg was more than a change of category. It required new physical attributes, more patience and more careful reading of each opponent.

HUNGER FOR GOLD

Borgohain comes to the Asian Games with the advantage of having already reached the final in Hangzhou.

She believes that experience can help, but she is also aware that this time will be different.

“Yes, definitely. Having already competed in the Asian Games and reaching the finals gives me valuable experience. I know what the environment is like and what it means to compete there,” she said.

“At the same time, every edition is different and every opponent brings a different challenge. So I will take the confidence from my previous experience, but also approach this edition with the same hunger and focus.”

The Indian women’s boxing team is also heading into the Asian Games with confidence after some strong performances at the Commonwealth Games.

Borgohain believes the success has had a positive impact on the entire group.

“There is a very positive atmosphere in the women’s boxing team. When one boxer performs well, it gives everyone confidence because we all train together and understand the work that goes into those performances,” she said.

“The Commonwealth Games results are definitely encouraging, but we also know that the Asian Games will bring a different level of competition. We want to take that confidence forward while working hard and staying focused.”

For Borgohain, confidence will be helpful, but it cannot replace the discipline required when a contest is decided by a handful of exchanges.

FOR MEDALS

Borgohain’s association with adidas was also an important part of her journey. For her, the relationship goes beyond the endorsement that comes with being associated with a global sports brand.

“For me, supporting a global sports brand reinforced the importance of believing in an athlete, not just in results,” she said.

“Sport is about the work that happens every day, the training, discipline, recovery and mindset needed to keep improving. Being associated with adidas has also given me the confidence that my journey and my story can inspire people outside of the boxing ring. That’s something I really appreciate.”

And maybe that’s what Borgohain’s journey is all about at this stage. Not just the medals already won, but the setbacks she has overcome, the adjustments she has made, and the goals that still lie ahead.

She’s moved up a weight class, bounced back after tough times, and learned to take defeats as lessons rather than points. There are still fights he wants to win and milestones he wants to reach.

But when the gloves finally come off, Borgohain hopes the numbers next to her name won’t be the only thing left.

“I would like people to remember the journey more than just the medals. Medals are important, but they are only one part of an athlete’s story,” she said.

“I would like people to remember that I kept fighting, working and not giving up when things got tough.

Then comes a line that perhaps best sums up what Borgohain wants her career to mean outside of boxing.

“If my journey can inspire even one young person to believe in themselves and pursue their dream, it would mean a lot to me.”

– The end