Commonwealth Games: Boxer Lovlina Borgohain punches her way into quarters

BIRMINGHAM: India's Olympic bronze medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain made a perfect start in her quest for a Commonwealth Games medal with a comfortable victory against her first-round opponent from New Zealand in the women's light middle-weight (over 66-70 kg) bout to storm into the quarterfinals here on Saturday night. The Indian boxer is now one win away from securing a bronze medal.

Opening her campaign against New Zealand's Ariane Nicholson, an amateur boxer who otherwise has a day job as a hairdresser, Lovlina Borgohain emerged a 5-0 winner, getting a unanimous decision from all five judges at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) here.

The 24-year-old Lovlina, who works as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Assam Police, exploited her height advantage and longer reach fully against her 38-year-old opponent to emerge the winner comfortably.

Making her Commonwealth Games debut, Lovlina managed to score 30-27, 30-27, 30-25, 30-25 and 30-27 on all five cards for a unanimous decision, winning 5-0 on points.

Playing from the blue corner, Lovlina was the better boxer in the ring by all counts and did not give her rival from New Zealand many chances. She unleashed a flurry of punches — and some good combinations — in all three rounds to score a comfortable win.

She will face Rosie Eccles of Wales in the quarter-finals. IANS

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