Asian Games: Lovlina to fight for gold, Priya, Kapil sign off with bronze medals

Lovlina Borgohain scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman boxer to reach back-to-back Asian Games finals, while debutants Priya Ghanghas and Kapil Pokhariya settled for bronze medals here on Wednesday. Last edition’s silver-medallist Lovlina edged reigning 70kg world champion Natalya Bogdanova of Kazakhstan 3-2 in a closely fought 75kg semifinal to assure herself of at least a silver.
However, 20-year-old Priya, making her Asian Games debut, went down 1-4 to former world champion Yang Chengyu of China in a bruising 60kg semifinal.

Another Indian debutant, Kapil suffered a similar 1-4 defeat against reigning world champion Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan in the 90kg semifinal to settle for bronze. India will thus have three boxers — Lovlina, Parveen Hooda (65kg) and Ankush Panghal (80kg) fighting for gold in Friday.

Indian boxers have already bettered their medal tally from the previous edition, with six medals assured this time compared to four in 2023, when they won one silver and three bronze.
Alongside Priya and Kapil, super-heavyweight boxer Narender Berwal will also go home with a bronze medal.

Lovlina overcame a slow start to edge past Kazakhstan’s Bogdanova in a closely fought contest, with a dominant second round proving decisive.

“It was an excellent experience because this is my second Asian Games, and last time I had a silver medal. So this time I will definitely try to get a gold medal. Let’s see what happens in the final,” Lovlina said.
“I feel very good, because this was a very tough match for me. I lost the first round, and the second round I won 5-0. So it was a tough fight for me, but I won.”

The Indian began cautiously and struggled to find her rhythm in the opening round, allowing Bogdanova to take it 3-2 on the judges’’ cards. Lovlina responded emphatically in the second, stepping up her aggression and landing cleaner, more effective punches. She remained composed despite Bogdanova’’s late flurry and swept the round 5-0 to gain the advantage heading into the decider.
The Kazakh came forward once again in the third, while Lovlina relied on her defence and counter-attacks. Bogdanova landed a strong left hook to edge the round 3-2. But Lovlina had done enough across the three rounds, leading on three of the five judges’’ scorecards to secure the split-decision victory. The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist will face China’’s Ziyi Bao in the final.

Interestingly, Lovlina had lost to another Chinese boxer, Li Qian, in the middleweight final at the previous edition.

“The final will be tougher for me. I will give my 100% and then definitely the result will be mine. I will be playing against a Chinese opponent, so it will be tough, but I have the blessings and support of everyone. The coaches have told me to play my best, and I will try my level best.

“I am hopeful that I will be able to do it this time,” Lovlina said.