Assam’s star boxer Lovlina Borgohain scripted history on Friday by winning the gold medal in the women’s 75kg category at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya,
becoming only the second Indian woman boxer to clinch an Asian Games gold. Lovlina defeated China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 by unanimous decision in the final at the Nishio Gymnasium. Bao entered the bout as the reigning Asian Championships gold medallist. The victory was made even more special as Lovlina celebrated her birthday with the biggest Asian Games achievement of her career. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist enjoyed a dominant run through the tournament. She began her campaign with a 5-0 unanimous-decision win over South Korea’s Seong Suyeon in the quarterfinals. In the semifinal, Lovlina faced Kazakhstan’s reigning world champion Natalya Bogdanova in a closely fought contest. The Indian boxer prevailed 3-2 on a split decision to secure her place in the final. Lovlina had won a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games. Her gold in Nagoya therefore marks a significant improvement and adds another major achievement to her international career. With this victory, Lovlina joins the elite company of MC Mary Kom, who became the first Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games gold when she triumphed in the 2014 edition. Lovlina already has an Olympic bronze medal to her name, along with medals from the World Championships, Asian Championships and Asian Games. Her latest triumph comes after a difficult period following the Paris Olympics, where she missed out on a medal. She also endured an early exit from the World Championships in Liverpool. However, her performance in Nagoya has marked a strong return to the biggest stage. The gold is India’s 12th at the 2026 Asian Games and adds another landmark chapter to the story of Indian women’s boxing. For Lovlina, it was a birthday to remember - and a gold medal that will stand among the biggest achievements of her career.
