“Winning the World Championships in the Olympic category was a big thing”: Boxer Lovlina Borgohain

Lovlina Borgohain knows tough competition awaits her at the Paris Olympics, but the top Indian boxer is confident of winning medals at the second consecutive Games, having enjoyed considerable success in her new category, which is also within her natural body weight. is close. After her bronze medal-winning achievement at the Tokyo Olympics, Borgohain faced a tough phase when she made early exits from the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games. She eventually moved up to 75 kg as her original 69 kg category was removed from the Paris event.

Since then, the top Indian boxer has won gold medals at the 2022 Asian Championships and 2023 World Championships as well as a silver medal at the Asian Games last year.

“Overall my performance has been good after the weight change. Winning the World Championships in the Olympic category was a big thing. I had to control the weight earlier (for 69kg), but now I am settled in this weight. I have participated in competitions Have taken it and performed well,” Borgohain told PTI in an interview.

One reason for her good performance in the higher weight categories is that the Assam boxer, who weighs between 70 kg and 75 kg even outside competition, does not have to lose much weight before the tournament, a laborious process that It can happen sometimes. Loss of power.

“Yes, the rivals (in 75kg) are stronger but I fit well in this category. I am more comfortable in this category than 69kg because I can eat properly, so the energy levels are high. I feel stronger and am able to train better, with strength and conditioning, I can increase muscle mass and power,” she adds.

The 75kg category has been on the Olympic roster since women’s boxing was included in the London Games in 2012 and the 26-year-old will have her work cut out for her as she faces boxers who have been plying their trade in the weight category long before her. . ,

“75kg is no doubt challenging because it has always been an Olympic category. 69kg was new but 75kg has been around for years so a lot of older, good boxers are already competing in it.

“So, it’s a challenge. But I’m confident because my performances have been good and I feel comfortable at 75kg,” said Borgohain, who is managed by IOS Sports.

While the three-time world medalist is working on her strength, she considers agility and speed as one of her strengths.

“I am tall for a boxer in the 69kg category and I had to control my weight. When I had to control my weight, I had to stop eating, then I did not feel that strong. But at 75kg, I felt strong. “The speed at which I was already helped.” Having participated in some major tournaments in the 75kg weight category, Borgohain is now well aware of the boxers he will be facing in Paris. Recently, during a week-long camp in Türkiye, he also changed his strategy.

“I have changed my technique a bit. I can’t say what, but it has helped me. Earlier my game was more defensive but now I go forward and attack,” she said.

As the pressure mounts before the Games, Borgohain said he finds strength in prayer and meditation.

“I always try to stay calm even when I’m at ringside. I meditate, do breathing exercises and pray. It makes me feel stronger. I like to read motivational books. If in the evening I have a competition on the morning of the morning and I read a little bit, I feel really good,” she added.

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