Lovlina Borgohain, the decorated Tokyo Olympic medalist in boxing, secured a well-earned silver medal in the intense ring battle at the Asian Games. However, it wasn't without a formidable challenge, as the reigning world Asian champion faced a formidable opponent in the form of two-time Olympic medalist Li Qian from the host nation. The 75kg final match was a one-sided affair, with Borgohain ultimately conceding defeat to Li Qian.
With Borgohain's silver, India's boxing campaign at the Asian Games reached its conclusion. The Indian contingent displayed remarkable prowess, amassing a total of five medals, including one silver and four bronze medals.
Parveen Hooda, a promising talent in the sport, had an impressive journey at the Games. Despite her tremendous effort, she faced the challenge of overcoming a significant height disadvantage in the women's 57kg semifinal against two-time world champion Lin Yu Ting from Chinese Taipei. Unfortunately, Parveen couldn't secure a victory and had to settle for the bronze medal.
Parveen, who had previously clinched the bronze medal in the 63kg category at the 2022 World Championships, encountered difficulties due to her height disadvantage. At a height of five feet and seven inches, she struggled to land scoring punches effectively. On the other hand, Lin capitalized on her two-inch advantage and utilized it to her advantage. The 2018 bronze medalist maintained a strategic distance while delivering a barrage of punches, leaving Parveen with limited opportunities to retaliate.
Despite Parveen's valiant efforts, she found herself trailing on all five scorecards. In the second round, she adopted a more aggressive approach, attempting to turn the tide in her favor. However, Lin, a 27-year-old with ample experience, skillfully evaded Parveen's attacks with nimble footwork. While Parveen did manage to connect with sporadic punches, her efforts were insufficient to sway the judges, as Lin consistently landed her punches.
Lin Yu Ting, a boxer with an impressive record, had previously secured three World Championships medals. However, her participation in the 2023 edition was marred by disqualification due to an eligibility test failure. On a positive note, the 23-year-old Indian boxer has already secured an Olympic quota for the upcoming Paris Games.
Parveen Hooda's bronze medal victory made her the fourth Indian boxer to achieve this accolade at the Asian Games this year. Joining her in this achievement were two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Narender Berwal (+92kg), all of whom secured bronze medals after facing formidable opponents in their respective semifinal bouts.
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