Nishio, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain has opened up about the difficult period following the Paris Olympics, where she failed to win a medal after securing bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, revealing that she had contemplated quitting the sport.
Lovlina, however, returned to the ring and on Friday created history by becoming the second Indian woman boxer after legendary Mary Kom to win an Asian Games gold medal. She improved on her silver-medal finish at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games by clinching gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Reflecting on the challenging time after the Paris Olympics, Lovlina said she had struggled to cope with the disappointment but eventually realised that her love for boxing mattered more to her than winning medals.
“The time after the Paris Olympics was very hard for me. It hurts when we give our 100% for the results, but it does not come as we think. After that, it feels like everything is over,” she told IANS after winning her Asian Games gold.
“But after that, I realised that I am not playing boxing for the medal. Because I like boxing, that’s why I am playing. That was very important for me. I started boxing on a fresh note. I enjoy everything. I just enjoy my game now. That’s why I got the result,” she added.
Lovlina had won a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, completing her major medal tally, having already secured an Olympic bronze, an Asian Games silver and a World Championships gold.
Heading into the Aichi-Nagoya Games, she was determined to upgrade her Asian Games medal from silver to gold.
“I had a silver medal in Glasgow; I had the same mindset that I have to change my colour at Asian Games. But the medal in Glasgow completed my tally, so that was very special for me. After that, winning the gold medal in the second Asian Games is a very big thing for me,” she said.
Lovlina credited the support of her coaches and the government, along with the encouragement of others, for helping her achieve the milestone.
“I am able to do this because of everyone’s support. I am able to do this because of the support of the coaches and the government,” she added.
The boxer won the Asian Games gold on her 29th birthday, making the victory even more memorable. She also celebrated the occasion with a cake-cutting ceremony after her triumph.
“I am feeling very good. The biggest thing is that I was able to give myself such a big gift on my birthday. It is a very special moment for me,” she said.
“The cake cutting was done here. Everyone is very happy on my birthday. The medal is definitely for the country. It’s a big thing for me that I got the medal for the country. And it’s a big thing for me that everyone is blessing me,” she added.
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