India’s Lovlina Borgohain secured another medal for India with her win in the quarter-final of women’s 69kg boxing competition Tokyo Olympics on Friday. Lovlina defeated Chinese Taipei’s Nien-Chin Chen by 4-1 split decision in the quarter-final. She had defeated Germany’s Nadine Apetz, a boxer nearly 12 years elder to her, 3-2 to reach the quarterfinals.
The two-time World championships bronze medallist gave a fine performance against an experienced opponent to record a 4-1 victory in the quarterfinals. Lovlina will be the second Indian woman boxer after Mary Kom, and third overall, to clinch an Olympic medal. She has pulled herself up after the disappointing show in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Lovlina Borgohain will face 2019 World Champion and top seed Busenaz Surmenellii in the much-anticipated semi-final on August 4. As the Indian executed her combinations from a distance, the 24-year-old Chen resorted to holding her opponent and landing punches whenever there was an opportunity. Lovlina, nevertheless, had a slight edge in the first round as she managed a 3-2 verdict. Chen delivered straight punches in an effort to bridge the gap, but the Indian, showing superb footwork, smartly bobbed and weaved to earn a 5-0 win in the second round. The 23-year-old from Assam moved out of Chen’s grasp and also landed some scoring shots to take the third round 4-1. In the process, Lovlina avenged her defeat to Chen in the 2018 World championships semifinals in New Delhi.
