Battered Lovlina Borgohain settles for Tokyo Olympics bronze

India’s Lovlina Borgohain bagged the women’s 69kg boxing bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after losing to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Lovlina Borgohain had earlier beaten Germany’s Nadine Apetz in the round of 16 before overcoming Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin in the quarter-finals. In Olympics boxing, both the losing semi-finalists get the bronze medal.

The 23-year-old Lovlina Borgohain, fighting from the blue corner at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, lost her bout by unanimous decision.

The two boxers, facing each other for the first time in their careers, looked to take the game to their opponent in the opening round.

While Surmeneli ensured she didn’t allow Borgohain any distance to take advantage of her height, the Indian obliged by engaging the Turk in close quarters.

It looked even at the start with both exchanging jabs but Surmeneli switched up a gear in the closing stages of the first round and landed some scoring left hooks. The judges ruled the first round unanimously in Surmeneli’s favour.

Lovlina Borgohain attempted to claw her way back into the contest and tried to go after the Turk. However, Surmeneli took advantage of the Indian’s open guards and landed some punishing left hooks to dominate round 2 as well.

The Indian pugilist needed an overwhelming third round triumph to turn the tables.

Despite a valiant effort, Lovlina Borgohain found herself on the receiving end of Surmeneli’s relentless attacks and was outclassed in the final round as well.

With the bronze already secured, Lovlina Borgohain became only the second Indian female boxer after MC Mary Kom (bronze at London 2012) to win an Olympic medal. Vijender Singh (bronze at Beijing 2008) is the only Indian men’s boxer with an Olympic medal.

Lovlina’s loss also brings India’s Tokyo 2020 boxing campaign to an end.