BHIM-UPI TOISA 2019: Amit Panghal, Lovlina Borgohain named joint winners for boxer of the year award

NEW DELHI: Amit Panghal and Lovlina Borgohain have been adjudged winners in boxing at the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2019, powered by BHIM-UPI. The fourth edition of the TOISA was held in New Delhi on Thursday.
Amit defied all odds - from not being able to afford boxing gloves and struggling to maintain a healthy diet, to making a mark in the crowded world of sports. The diminutive boxer started off the year 2019 by successfully defending his gold medal at the 70th Strandja Memorial Boxing tournament.
Two months later in April, Panghal added another gold to his kitty, winning the title at the Asian Boxing Championships.This was Panghal's continental competitive debut in the 52kg category. Amit Panghal won his third gold medal of the year at the India Open.

In September 2019, Panghal made history, becoming the first Indian male boxer to win a silver medal at the World Championships. He went down 0-5 to Uzbekistan's reigning Olympic gold medallist Shakhobidin Zoirov in the final in Russia.
Lovlina has participated in two Women's World Boxing Championships - in 2018 and 2019 - and the 22-year-old returned with medals on both occasions.
Lovlina, who won a bronze at the 2018 World Championships, won another bronze in the 2019 edition at Ulan-Ude, Russia. Coaches and experts feel she is one to watch out for as far as the future of Indian women's boxing is concerned.
Apart from her World Championship medal in 2019, Lovlina struck gold at the Magomed Salam Umakhanov Memorial International Boxing Tournament in Kaspiysk, Russia and bronze at the Strandja Memorial Boxing tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.