Lovlina finds the missing piece of the puzzle

India’s Lovlina Borgohain has been assured of at least a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games without having to throw a punch. With only five boxers in the fray in the women’s 75kg category, the 28-year-old received a bye in the opening round.

The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist will now face Tarona Khanum Badi Pasoni, who also got a bye, in the semifinals on July 31. If she gets past the Tuvalu pugilist, Lovlina will most likely meet Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree in the final. Greentree is a World Championships bronze medallist.

In fact, Greentree, too, received a bye in the first round. In the semifinals, Greentree will face England’s Mary Kate Smith or Nigeria’s Patricia Mbata.

Lovlina was surprised by the unusual route to the semifinals. “This is really surprising news for me. I never thought that I would get to the semifinals this way,” she told the media here on Friday.

Lovlina said she has not sparred with Greentree before but is looking forward to the possibility of meeting her. “I haven’t fought her before. So, I hope that I can face her this time,” she said.

For Lovlina, the Commonwealth Games medal had been a missing piece of puzzle in an otherwise glittering career. Having won medals at the Olympics, Asian Games and World Championships, a CWG podium finish had remained elusive. She has ticked that box as well.

“I have taken part in two CWGs (2018 & 2022) and in each time, I had to fight around five to six bouts, but couldn’t win a medal. To win a medal for the country is always great,” she added.