New Delhi, May 9: Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain kicked off her campaign at the 12th IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul on an impressive note as she scored a thrilling victory on Monday.
The 24-year-old Indian star boxer put on a splendid show to secure a 3-2 victory against former world champion Chen Nien-Chin in the opening 70kg bout.
The Chinese Taipei boxer entered the match with a 3-1 head-to-head record. He had defeated the Indian boxer in the semifinal of the 2018 World Championships. On the other hand, Lovlina’s only win against Chen came in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics en route to her bronze medal triumph, according to a statement from the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).
Both boxers started cautiously and kept a distance from each other. Making her first appearance on the international circuit after heroics in Tokyo, the boxer from Assam showed no signs of rust and landed some well-timed punches.
The second and final intense bout saw both boxers trading heavy blows. Chen, who won gold and bronze medals at the 2018 and 2016 World Championships respectively, tried to attack but the speedy Indian managed to block with good defensive technique and tilted the outcome of the exciting match in his favor.
Lovlina will face Cindy Ngamba of the Fair Chance Team in the round of 16 match on Friday.
On the second day, Nitu, the only Indian boxer in action, will start her 48kg first round challenges against Steluta Duta of Romania.
Four Indians, Shiksha (54kg), Manisha (57kg), Ankushita (66kg) and Nandini (+81kg), received a bye in their respective opening rounds.
With a record turnout of 310 boxers from 73 countries around the world, this year’s event also marks the 20th anniversary of the prestigious event which runs through May 20.
In the last edition of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship held in Russia in 2019, Indian boxers achieved one silver and three bronze medals. India’s tally of 36 medals, including nine golds, eight silvers and 19 bronzes, so far in the 11 editions of the tournament is the third highest after Russia (60) and China (50).