Lovlina Borgohain Reflects on Road Back After Paris Setback

Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain has described continuing her boxing career after the Paris Games as one of her biggest achievements, after navigating injuries, self-doubt and a difficult period over the past year. The 28-year-old spoke after India’s boxing contingent met Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya following a record Commonwealth Games return of 10 medals.

Borgohain made a quarterfinal exit at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and said the period that followed brought major questions about whether she wanted to carry on in the sport. Her return has now included a first Commonwealth Games medal, with the boxer taking silver in her third appearance at the event.

Lovlina values persistence after Paris Olympics

“First of all, it was a big deal for me to continue for such a long time,” Borgohain told PTI Videos. “There were many ups and downs after the Paris Olympics. There were many questions as to whether I wanted to continue or not. But I came back and continued. That is a big deal for me.”

Her comments place the Commonwealth Games silver in the context of a larger personal recovery. Borgohain said injuries and doubts had made the past year challenging, while her Paris quarterfinal exit had preceded a period in which her future in boxing was uncertain.

The silver was Borgohain’s first medal at the Commonwealth Games. While she was pleased to get onto the podium, she also made clear that gold had been her target. “I have won medals in almost all games and competitions. But yes, it would have been better if I had won gold,” she said.

India’s overall performance gave Borgohain another reason to be positive. The contingent collected seven gold medals among its 10 boxing medals, a haul she described as a major achievement for the team. “I am very happy for my team because they have done so well. Seven golds is a big thing for all of us,” she said.

The Commonwealth Games result also provides a marker ahead of the next major objective. Borgohain said she is ready for the Asian Games and wants to improve on the silver-medal result. “I have to do better and win gold,” she said.

India turns focus to Asian Games and LA 2028

India foreign coach Santiago Nieva called the Commonwealth Games showing a historic result and said it would provide confidence for the competitions ahead. He pointed to Sakshi’s women’s 51kg gold as evidence of the strength in India’s selection field, noting that the trials featured three world champions and a couple of youth world champions.

Nieva said Sakshi faced a strong English opponent in the final, but praised the experience she showed. His focus, however, is already shifting toward the Asian Games and the Olympic qualification cycle.

World champion Jaismine Lamboria also linked the recent success to a longer-term aim of competing at LA 2028. Lamboria said illness had left her in a difficult position before the Games, with only three weeks of training after recovery, but added that arriving as reigning world champion had motivated her.

For Borgohain, the immediate significance of the Commonwealth Games silver extends beyond the medal itself. After a demanding post-Paris phase, she has returned to competition, remained in the sport and set a new target: Asian Games gold.