Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain marked her competitive return with a hard-fought victory, overcoming a stern challenge from former world champion Saweety Boora at the National Boxing Championships in Greater Noida on Tuesday. The closely contested 75kg pre-quarterfinal bout was decided by a split decision in Borgohain's favour.
A Gruelling Return to the Ring
Competing for the first time since her second-round exit at the World Championships in September last year, Lovlina Borgohain was immediately put under pressure. Saweety Boora, the seasoned boxer from Haryana, launched relentless attacks from the opening bell. She pressed forward aggressively, landing sharp and accurate punches that repeatedly forced Borgohain into defensive clinches to halt the momentum.
As the bout progressed, the Olympic medallist gradually found her footing and rhythm. However, the contest remained scrappy, with frequent holding and tumbles often overshadowing periods of clean boxing. The intense battle was ultimately ruled in Borgohain's favour by the narrowest of margins.
Fighters React to the Close Contest
Speaking after the bout, Lovlina Borgohain acknowledged the expected difficulty of her return. "I have returned after a long break, so yes, I expected today's bout to be tough," she stated. "My strategy was to stay calm and assess in the first round, then bring in the aggression, and that worked." She also highlighted the significance of the year, adding, "This year is very important for me. After Paris, I have been on and off from boxing and I also started my academy."
In stark contrast, a disappointed Saweety Boora believed she had done enough to win. She smiled wryly and raised her hand in victory even as the result was announced against her. "I was landing counting punches. According to me, the bout should have ended in the first round itself after giving Lovlina three counts," Boora claimed. "I thought I would get a 5-0 decision in my favour, but it didn't happen."
Other Key Results from Greater Noida
The day of upsets and tight matches continued in other weight categories. India's lone men's World Championships silver medallist, Amit Panghal, was pushed to the limit in the 55kg category. He managed to scrape through with a narrow 3-2 win over a determined Priyanshu from Haryana.
However, World Cup Finals medallist Jadumani Singh had a far more straightforward outing. He secured a dominant Referee-Stopped Contest (RSC) victory over R Parthiban of Tamil Nadu.
In the women's section, other notable results included:
- Pooja Rani (80kg) from Haryana outclassed Anju of Chandigarh with a clean 5-0 verdict.
- Commonwealth Games champion Nitu Ghanghas (51kg) sealed a comfortable RSC win.
- Sakshi Choudhary (54kg) also marched ahead with an RSC victory.
The National Boxing Championships in Greater Noida have set the stage for an exciting week, proving that even the biggest stars face formidable challenges on the domestic circuit.
