Lovlina Borgohain suffers defeat in quarter-finals; India's boxing campaign ends without a medal at Paris Olympics

NEW DELHI: India's boxing campaign at the ongoing Paris Olympics concluded without a medal following Lovlina Borgohain's loss to China’s Li Qian in the women's 75kg quarterfinals. Borgohain, the reigning world champion, was defeated 1-4 in a contest marked by frequent clinching and holding, which led to repeated cautions for both boxers.
Lovlina Borgohain, a Tokyo bronze medallist, faced a tough challenge against Li Qian, who secured a silver at the Tokyo Games.The match began at a brisk pace with both fighters engaging early. However, neither seemed eager to launch the first attack, resulting in early and repeated clinching that forced the referee to separate them multiple times.
Qian displayed determination while Borgohain appeared more animated. Throughout the first round, Qian landed several clean combination punches and a left hook, earning her a 3-2 lead.
The second round was similar to the first, with Qian adopting a more purposeful approach. Her right straights found their mark, and Borgohain was cautioned twice for excessive holding. Qian maintained a 3-2 lead, with one judge giving her a slender one-point lead, while the other four scores were tied.
By the third round, both fighters were visibly drained, and the holding and clinching persisted. Qian’s tactical awareness allowed her to keep Borgohain at bay, while the latter struggled to control the pace of the bout and took repeated hits on counter-attacks.
Borgohain's history with Qian added drama to the match. She had previously lost to Qian in the Asian Games final last year, but later defeated her in the semifinals of the 2023 World Championship. Recently, Qian bested Borgohain in a pre-Olympic tournament in Czechia in June.
This loss follows the ousting of Nishant Dev from the men’s 71kg quarterfinals, another closely contested bout. India's six-strong boxing contingent saw four of its members crash out in the preliminary stages.