India at Tokyo: Boxer Lovlina Borgohain one win away from medal

INDIAN boxer Lovlina Borgohain reached the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday (27) defeating Germany’s Nadine Aptez in a closely-fought bout.

Contesting in the 69-kilogram category on Olympic debut, the 23-year-old Borgohain prevailed 3-2 over her opponent who is 12 years senior to her. Aptez also was competing in her maiden Olympics (she is the first German woman to qualify for Olympic boxing) but it was Borgohain who had the last laugh. She also became the first from her nine-strong team to make the last eight.

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Borgohain, who has won bronze in world and Asian championships, claimed all the three rounds on split points. She played aggressively in the opening round before changing strategy to play the waiting game, drawing Apetz in and punishing her on counter-attack. The plan clicked despite the German's well-placed jabs often troubling Borgohain. The Indian youngster relied mostly on her left hooks to maintain the slender edge.

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“There was no point in being too offensive, Lovlina was smart enough to keep the score ticking by hitting on counter-attack,” national women’s coach Mohammed Ali Qamar told PTI.

On Friday (30), Borgohain will take on Chinese Taipei’s Nien-Chin Chen, who is seeded fourth and a former world champion. The Indian had lost to her 1-4 in the semi-final of the 2018 world championship. If the Assam-born boxer can avenge that defeat, she will be assured at least a bronze medal.

India have so far one medal at the mega event and it came in weightlifting where Mirabai Chanu from Manipur bagged the silver.