India’s boxing campaign at the ongoing Olympics concluded without a medal after Tokyo bronze-medalist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) faced a hard-fought quarterfinal loss to China’s Li Qian in the women’s competition on Sunday.
Borgohain, the reigning world champion in her category, was defeated 1-4 by the 34-year-old Tokyo Games silver medalist in a contentious match where both boxers were frequently cautioned for clinching and holding.
This defeat marked the end of India’s boxing journey at the Olympics, following Nishant Dev’s elimination from the men’s 71kg quarterfinals on Saturday night, also a closely contested match.
India’s boxing squad at the Games comprised six athletes—four women and two men. Unfortunately, four of them were eliminated in the preliminary stages.
The bout between Borgohain and Qian began at a rapid pace, with the boxers quickly entangling each other. However, neither seemed eager to launch the first offensive move.
The holding and clinching started early, compelling the referee to repeatedly intervene and separate the fighters.
Qian appeared determined while Borgohain was more animated early in the bout. The Chinese boxer landed some clean combination punches and a left hook towards the end of the first round, securing a 3-2 lead.
The second round mirrored the first, with Qian showing a more purposeful approach. Her right straights were precise, while Borgohain was cautioned twice for excessive holding.
Qian maintained a 3-2 advantage, with only a one-point lead on one judge’s card while the other four judges were tied.
The third round continued with holding and clinching, and both athletes seemed drained. Qian demonstrated excellent strategy, keeping Borgohain at a distance.
Borgohain struggled to control the bout’s pace and was repeatedly hit by counter-attacks. The Assamese boxer had previously fought Qian in the Asian Games final last year, losing 0-5.
She then defeated Qian in the semifinals of the World Championship in 2023, but was bested by the veteran in a pre-Olympic tournament in Czechia in June.
This loss marks a disappointing end to Borgohain’s Olympic campaign, highlighting the challenges and fierce competition faced by India’s boxing team at the global event.