Lovlina optimistic about Assam’s performance in National Games

Our Sports Reporter

Guwahati: Olympic medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain is optimistic about Assam’s prospects in the upcoming National Games, scheduled to be held in Uttarakhand from the last week of January. She has already begun her preparations for this prestigious event.

Lovlina interacted with the media today on the sidelines of the ASMITA Women’s Under-17 football final at the SAI campus in the city. She was joined by India’s versatile lawn bowler, Nayanmoni Saikia, during the event.

Commenting on Assam’s potential performance in the forthcoming National Games, Lovlina said, “I hope it will be better than last time. The government is doing its best to promote sports in the state, which has helped improve the players’ performance. I feel confident that we will do well in the upcoming National Games.”

When asked about her own preparation, the pugilist shared, “After the Olympics, I took some time to rest, but now I have resumed practice. This year will be challenging, with the World Championships also on the horizon. My immediate focus, however, is on performing well in the National Games for Assam. The World Boxing Cup Final, scheduled to be held in India later in 2025, is another target, but right now, my priority is the National Games.”

Lovlina, who has represented India in the Olympics twice, has also set her sights on qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The middleweight (75 kg) boxer, who will be 31 by then, is confident of leveraging her experience and learnings from previous events to stay competitive.

“I’m not going to rush my preparations. Los Angeles is still a long way off, and managing my weight and preventing injuries will be key aspects of my training,” she said.

Lovlina is now part of the Athletes Commission of the newly formed Asian unit of World Boxing. “It’s a huge privilege to be on this committee as India will now have a voice in decision making,” said Lovlina, pointing out that boxing’s technicalities, “especially scoring and judging” needed closer and impartial introspection.

Both Lovlina and multiple Commonwealth Games medallist Nayanmoni later took part in the Fit India Sundays on Cycle mission and stressed on the “no drugs” campaign undertaken by the Union Ministry of Sports.  

India: 1st innings : 185-10, Australia: 1st innings: 181

India: 2nd innings (overnight 141/6)

Ravindra Jadeja       c Carey b Cummins                  13

Washington Sundar b Cummins                                 12

Mohammed Siraj      c Khawaja b Boland                  4

*Jasprit Bumrah       b Boland                                      0

Prasidh Krishna       not out                                          1

Extras: 8; Total:                                           157-10 (39.5)

FOW:Reddy (129-6, 27.3), Jadeja (147-7, 34.4),  Sundar (156-8, 38.4), Siraj (156-9, 39.3), Bumrah (157-10, 39.5)

Bowling:

Mitchell Starc            4                0                36              0

*Pat Cummins          15              4                44              3

Scott Boland             16.5          4                45              6

Beau Webster           4                2                24              1

Australia: 2nd inngings   

Sam Konstas            c Sundar b Krishna                   22

Usman Khawaja       c Pant b Siraj                              41

Marnus Labuschagne               c Jaiswal b Krishna 6

Steven Smith            c Jaiswal b Krishna                   4

Travis Head              not out                                          34

Beau Webster           not out                                          39

Extras: 16; Total:                                         162-4 (27)

FOW: Konstas (39-1, 3.5), Labuschagne (52-2, 8), Smith (58-3, 10), Khawaja (104-4, 18.1)

Bowling

Mohammed Siraj      12              1                69              1

Prasidh Krishna       12              0                65              3

Nitish Reddy             2                0                10              0

Washington Sundar 1                0                11              0

MOM: Scott Boland; MOS: Jasprit Bumrah

Also Read: Batters guide Assam to nail-biting win against Uttarakhand

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