NEW DELHI / JAPAN:
India’s star pugilist Lovlina Borgohain has added another glorious chapter to her stellar boxing career, clinching a sensational gold medal in the women’s 75kg category at the Asian Games 2026. Upgrading her silver medal finish from the previous edition, Borgohain delivered a masterclass in the summit clash, completely outclassing China’s Bao Ziyi with a 5-0 unanimous decision to seal her maiden Asian Games gold.
From the opening bell, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist looked firmly in control, dictating the pace of the match and showcasing superior tactical discipline. Her journey to the top of the podium was equally commanding; she cruised past South Korea’s Seong Su-yeon 5-0 in the quarterfinals before edging out Kazakhstan’s tough competitor Natalya Bogdanova 3-2 in a thrilling contest.
With this momentous victory, Lovlina becomes only the second Indian woman boxer ever to claim a gold medal at the Asian Games, following in the legendary footsteps of Mary Kom, who triumphed in the flyweight (51kg) division back at the 2014 Incheon Games. Mary Kom remains the only other Indian female boxer to bag multiple medals at the continental event.
Lovlina's triumph also serves as a massive boost for the Indian boxing contingent at the 2026 Games, which has seen impressive performances across weight divisions, adding six medals to the nation's tally so far.
From her humble beginnings in Baromukhia village in Assam's Golaghat district—where she initially took up kickboxing before transitioning to boxing under the guidance of the Sports Authority of India (SAI)—Lovlina has risen through the ranks to become one of India's most dependable champions on the global stage. Having already captured World Championship glory and Olympic hardware, the Asian Games gold is another proud milestone for the Indian icon.
