Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 6 presented boxer Lovlina Borgohain with a cheque of Rs 50 lakh in recognition of her gold medal-winning performance at the Asian Games in Japan.
Borgohain was felicitated at Lok Sewa Bhawan after returning to Assam following her victory in the women’s 75kg boxing category. Sarma said the achievement was a matter of pride for Assam and the country and would encourage young athletes to pursue sports.
The boxer received a warm welcome earlier in the day at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, where Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Biswajit Daimary, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia, family members and supporters gathered to receive her.
Speaking at the airport, Saikia described Borgohain’s victory as a significant achievement for Assam while referring to India’s performance at the Asian Games.
“Recently in the Asian Games, India won 21 gold medals. Among them, Assam’s daughter Lovlina Borgohain won a medal in boxing. Today, to welcome Lovlina Borgohain to Assam, members of the BJP, BJYM (Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha), and the youth of Assam gathered at Guwahati Airport,” Saikia said.
Borgohain was also felicitated by the Congress at the airport. A delegation led by senior Congress leader Pranati Phukan welcomed the boxer with a gamosa, bouquet and jaapi. Senior Congress leaders Bipul Gogoi, Bedabrata Bora, Udit Bhanu Das, Gunakanta Gogoi, Mousumi Neog and Debajit Deka were among those present.
Borgohain won the Asian Games gold medal on October 2, which was also her birthday. She defeated China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the final of the women’s 75kg category.
With the victory, Borgohain became only the second Indian woman boxer to win an Asian Games gold medal, after MC Mary Kom achieved the feat in 2014.
The Assam boxer, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, had earlier secured silver in the same 75kg category at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
After arriving in Guwahati, Borgohain thanked the people of Assam for their continued support and encouragement.
Her latest achievement adds another major milestone to her international boxing career and has brought renewed attention to Assam’s contribution to Indian boxing.
