And that’s a lovely silver

India’s Lovlina Borgohain with her silver medal in the women’s 75kg category boxing event yesterday. Pic/PTI

Lovlina Borgohain, 26, loves a good fight. And on Wednesday, she threw all she had at China's Li Qian, 33, in the final of the women's 75kg bout at the Hangzhou Gymnasium here. Unfortunately, the Chinese pugilist used all her experience and got a unanimous 5-0 verdict to emerge victorious amidst some vociferous crowd support. Borgohain and Li Qian are both reputed and accomplished boxers. While Tokyo Olympics bronze medal-winning Borgohain is also the reigning world champion, Qian is a two-time Olympic medallist and three-time World Championship medallist.

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Qian starts aggressively

It was the Chinese though who began aggressively in the first round while Borgohain held up her defence. The Indian did get a few jabs in, but Qian was the better puncher across the first 180-seconds. The second round saw home favourite Qian in total control. In fact, Borgohain was even pulled up for clinching which is normally done when you are at the receiving end and you want to avoid giving to many points away. Borgohain then tried to make a comeback in Round 3, even dropping her guard, inviting Qian to have a go with the plan that she will counter, but it didn't work. The Chinese won this tactical battle too.

The good thing for Borgohain however, has been her qualification for the all-important 2024 Paris Olympics, which she sealed when she entered this summit clash. And in her own words, it has helped her "learn that things sometimes happen and it's no problem." The fact that she was unable to stand on the topmost step of the podium though hurt. "I'm happy that I got this medal but I feel disappointed because I thought I would get the gold. But I will try next time and will definitely win gold," she said.

Borgohain's Paris planning

As for planning for Paris 2024, that can wait for now, she said. "I do not have any plan yet [for the Paris Olympics]. I will take it step by step, but I will give it my best for sure," added Borgohain, who picked up India's first silver medal in women's boxing at the Asian Games, with the legendary Mary Kom having won gold at Incheon in 2014.