Paris 2024: Lovlina’s defeat concludes India's disappointing Olympic campaign

At the Paris Olympics, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain lost to China’s Li Qian in the women’s 75kg quarter-final. Li Qian, the top seed and a two-time Olympic medallist, defeated Lovlina in a split 4-1 verdict on Sunday. Despite her loss, Lovlina kept smiling, but the Indian boxing team had little to celebrate. Lovlina’s exit meant India ended their boxing campaign without a medal.

Close bout with high hopes

Lovlina entered the bout with confidence, despite knowing her opponent’s strong record. She fought hard across three rounds, but Li Qian's effective jabs and one-two combinations impressed the judges more. Lovlina’s coach, Dmitry Dmitruk, acknowledged the bout was close and emphasized the need to work harder. The Indian boxing team had high hopes, especially from Lovlina and two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen, but they fell short.

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Preparation and frustration

The Indian boxers prepared extensively for the Olympics, training in Germany and sparring with international boxers. Despite their good preparation, Lovlina admitted there were shortcomings that affected their performance. The male boxers' struggle to secure Olympic quotas and the resignation of high-performance director Bernard Dunne added to the challenges.

Nishant Dev, the last remaining male boxer for India, also lost his quarter-final bout in a split decision to Mexico’s Marco Verde. His frustration was evident as he kicked chairs in the coaches’ area. Coach Dmitruk expressed disappointment for the entire team, noting the close fights and split decisions. Despite their hard work and readiness, Indian boxing’s trip to Paris ended in disappointment.