Asian Games 2026: Birthday Girl Lovlina Borgohain Lands First Asiad Gold With 5-0 Win

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain won her first Asian Games gold on her 29th birthday, defeating China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the women’s 75kg final at the Nishio Gymnasium in Aichi on Friday.
Lovlina produced a composed performance against the defensive Chinese boxer, waiting for openings before landing accurate jabs and upper cuts. Ziyi attempted to put pressure on the Indian with a flurry of punches, but struggled to find the accuracy needed to trouble her.

Lovlina Grows Stronger as Bout Progresses

The opening two rounds went in Lovlina’s favour through split decisions as both boxers looked to establish control.
Lovlina reportedly became sharper as the bout progressed and made better use of her openings. Her accuracy allowed her to score while limiting the impact of Ziyi’s attacks.
Ziyi also tried to disrupt Lovlina’s rhythm by clinching. She managed to fell the Indian twice during the bout, but Lovlina remained undeterred and continued to press forward.
The judges eventually awarded the bout to Lovlina by a unanimous 5-0 decision, confirming her Asian Games gold.

First Indian Woman After Mary Kom to Win Gold

The victory made Lovlina the first Indian woman after MC Mary Kom to win an Asian Games boxing gold medal.
Mary Kom reportedly achieved the feat at the 2014 Asian Games. Amit Panghal was the last Indian boxer to win an Asian Games gold before Lovlina, securing the title in 2018.
Lovlina had previously won a silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. Her gold in Aichi marks a step up from her previous Asian Games result.

Straight Path to the Final

Lovlina began her campaign against South Korea’s Seong Suyeon and secured a 5-0 victory.
Her next challenge was Kazakhstan’s reigning world champion Natalya Bogdanova. The Indian edged the bout 3-2 to book her place in the final.
Against Ziyi, Lovlina maintained her patience and relied on precise punches rather than rushing into exchanges. The 29-year-old now adds an Asian Games gold to her Olympic bronze and previous Asian Games silver. Her ability to exploit openings helped her complete an unbeaten run through the competition and secure the gold medal on her birthday.