GUWAHATI: Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed for pugilist Lovlina Borgohain, who is just two matches away from winning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Temples and Satras came alive with prayers to wish her luck.
She will face Germany’s Nadine Apetz in her opening clash in the pre-quarterfinal on Tuesday.
She is the second sportsperson from the state to reach the pre-quarterfinals after badminton player Dipankar Bhattacharjee, who is the first Olympian from the state to have made it to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Lovlina, who is the first woman from the state to qualify for the Olympics and the second boxer from the state to represent the country after Shiva Thapa, was supposed to step into the ring in the first round on Saturday.
Along with others, 2,000-odd dwellers of Baro Mukhia, Lovlina’s native village under the Sarupathar legislative constituency in upper Assam’s Golaghat district (about 320 km east of Guwahati), is eagerly waiting to witness the moment when Lovlina will step into the boxing ring at Tokyo’s Kokugikan Arena (the boxing venue for Olympics 2020) on Tuesday and move one step closer to secure a medal.
‘Hard work took her to world stage’
Ahead of her debut boxing match in Olympics, Dhansiri sub-division unit of the All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) on Thursday initiated wall painting drives in various places in Golaghat district to support and encourage the 23-year-old boxer.
Swapan Chakrabarty, a local, said, “It is a very proud moment for us. There are no sports infrastructure and boxing rings here, but her dedication and hard work have taken her to the world stage. We hope that she will win the gold medal and bring laurels to India as well as to the state.”
The two-time world championship medalist would be the first from the state to win a medal in the Olympics if she gets through the next two matches.
Prayers have been offered at temples and satras (Vaishnavite monasteries), wall-paintings have been made in several parts of the state and rallies have been organized to encourage Lovlina.
The state government on Wednesday flagged off a goodwill campaign named ‘Go for Glory, Lovlina’ in Guwahati to motivate and support her.
World championship medal winner and Lovlina’s fellow boxer from Assam’s Dhekiajuli, Jamuna Boro, said, “She (Lovlina) is very hard working. It is a proud moment that she qualified for the Olympics. She will take part in the pre-quarterfinals having got a bye in the first round. I am sure she will definitely clinch gold. We are excited and waiting to celebrate the moment. I would like to wish her well.”
Satish K Sarhadi, director of SAI, Guwahati, said Lovlina, who is focused and has a clear head, is definitely going to clinch a medal in the Olympics as she is just two steps away.
Lovlina, who was spotted as a boxer by Indian boxing coach Padum Boro in 2012 during a visit to her village in search of young talents, is very skilled. Lovlina underwent training at SAI, Guwahati, for a long time as the sub-centre in her home district Golaghat does not have sufficient facilities. While she made it to the grand stage of international sports, two other prominent names from the sporting fraternity missed the bus–international boxer Shiva Thapa and sprinter Hima Das.
