Assam boxer Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) has qualified for Tokyo Olympics by advancing to the semifinals of the continental qualifiers at Amman in Jordan.
In the evening session of the event in Amman, two-time world bronze-winner and second seed Borgohain eased past Uzbekistan’s Maftunakhon Melieva to enter the semifinals and secure an Olympic berth.
Informing this on its official Twitter handle, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) said: “No 2 seed & reigning world championship bronze medalist, @LovlinaBorgohai will go to Tokyo for her first-ever #Olympic Games, outpunched Uzbek boxer with a unanimous verdict to secure a semi-final spot in the 69kg category.”
Ticket to #Tokyo2020-3?
No 2 seed & reigning world championship bronze medalist, @LovlinaBorgohai will go to Tokyo for her first-ever #Olympic Games, outpunched Uzbek boxer with a unanimous verdict to secure a semi-final spot in the 69kg category.#PunchMeinHaiDum#boxing pic.twitter.com/XZLqFljZF0
— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) March 8, 2020
Two other Indian boxers have also qualified for this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
They are Asian champion Pooja Rani (75kg) and seasoned boxer Vikas Krishan (69kg).
Also read: Assam pugilist Lovlina Borgohain highest ranked female Indian boxer in the world
This will be 22-year-old Assam girl Borgohain’s maiden Olympic spot.
Union sports & youth affairs minister Kiren Rijiju has congratulated Lovlina on his Twitter handle.
Rijiju tweeted: “One more thrilling news for India on the #InternationalWomensDay ! Top women boxer
@LovlinaBorgohai has qualified for the #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020 in the 69kg categoryBoxing gloveBoxing glove Congratulations Lovlina!”
One more thrilling news for India on the #InternationalWomensDay ! Top women boxer @LovlinaBorgohai has qualified for the #Tokyo2020 #Olympics2020 in the 69kg category?? Congratulations Lovlina! pic.twitter.com/63cqCFO9IV
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) March 8, 2020
Second-seeded Lovlina didn’t have any difficulty to go past her Mongolian opponent as she won by unanimous decision during the event at Amman.
Lovlina came to the tournament to achieve her ultimate dream to represent India at the Olympics and will end this tournament with her dream in her pocket.
Also read: Lovlina knocks out Lalita, to represent India at Tokyo Olympic Qualifiers
According to reports, Lovlina Borgohain started first round on good note as the maximum of her punches connected the opponent but the Mongolian came back in the second round to give Lovlina fight but her feet movement was quick enough to win the round by 4-1.
Lovlina again displayed great feet movement in the third round and won the match comfortably by 5-0.
Lovlina Borgohain has played two world championships so far and won two bronze medals.
She also won a silver medal in the Asian Championship.
The Assam boxer also won gold at Magomed Salam Umakhanov Memorial International Tournament 2019 in Russia and the 2018 India Open in New Delhi.