Asian Games 2023 boxing: Lovlina Borgohain assures medal; Preeti Pawar secures Paris 2024 Olympic quota

India’s Lovlina Borgohain marched into the semi-finals of the women’s 75kg boxing event at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China, on Saturday and confirmed a medal for herself at the continental meet.

Lovlina Borgohain, an Olympic medallist and reigning world champion, defeated the Republic of Korea’s Suyeon Seong, a 2022 Asian championships bronze medallist, by unanimous decision in the quarter-finals after being handed a bye in the round of 16.

The Indian boxer dominated the early exchanges and landed some strong right-handed jabs to take the first round. Borgohain maintained the momentum in the second round as well and evaded the Korean boxer’s surge expertly in the final round to make it to the semi-finals.

In women’s 54kg, Preeti Pawar made it to the semi-finals by defeating Zhaina Shekerbekova of Kazakhstan 4-1 by split decision. The 19-year-old Indian boxer, by virtue of making the top four, secured a maiden Asian Games medal as well as a quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics next year.

However, as National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

Boxing at the Asian Games 2023 is also a Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier event. In men’s events, the gold and silver medallists in each of the seven weight divisions will be issued a quota to Paris 2024. In the women’s categories, four quotas will be on offer for all categories other than the 66kg and 75kg, for which there will be two berths on offer like men’s.

Since Lovlina Borgohain competes in the 75kg, she still needs to win another bout to obtain a Paris 2024 quota.

Preeti Pawar had a tough outing against her Kazakhstan opponent, who is a three-time world championships medallist. The Indian boxer nicked the opening round by the barest of margins but Zhaina Shekerbekova fought back in the second round.

With both boxers going at it in the third round, Preeti landed some decisive punches to drive home the victory.

Later, Sachin Siwach received a walkover from Kuwait’s Turki Abuquthailah and made it to the men’s 57kg quarter-finals, while Narender Berwal beat Iman Ramezanpour Delavar of Iran by unanimous decision to assure a medal in the men’s +92kg division.

Nishant Dev missed out on a medal, as he lost to Japan’s Sewon Okazawa 5:0 in the men’s 71kg quarter-finals.

Lovlina Borgohain and Preeti Pawar will fight in their respective semi-finals on October 3. Borgohain will face Baison Maneekon of Thailand while Pawar will be up against China’s Chang Yuan for a place in the gold medal bout.