NEW DELHI: Lovlina Borgohain’s Asian Games gold was not just a medal upgrade from silver in the last edition. It was the latest marker in a 15-year career that has taken the Assam boxer through Olympic success, injuries, difficult phases and a mentally demanding Paris 2024 campaign.At the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Borgohain finally changed the colour of her Asian Games medal, defeating China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the women’s 75kg final. The victory, on her 29th birthday, made her only the second Indian woman after MC Mary Kom to win boxing gold at the Asian Games — 12 years after Kom’s 2014 triumph.For Borgohain, however, the gold’s significance went beyond the history books.“It’s still difficult to get out of this moment. I still have the gold medal in my hand,” said a beaming Borgohain while lifting the gold medal next to her face. “It’s a very special moment for me. I can’t express how I feel,” she continued as she spoke to TimesofIndia.com upon returning from Japan.Borgohain had finished with silver at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, losing to China’s Li Qian in the final. Three years later, she returned to the continental stage determined to go one step further.
I got a silver medal in the last Asian Games and this time I got a gold medal. This is why it is so special. And to do it on my birthday is extra special
Lovlina Borgohain
Her path to the gold in Nagoya was not straightforward. She began with a 5-0 quarter-final win over South Korea’s Seong Su-yeon before edging Kazakhstan’s reigning 70kg world champion Natalya Bogdanova 3-2 in a closely fought semi-final. She then produced a 5-0 win over Ziyi in the final.The contrast with Hangzhou made the medal particularly meaningful.“Every event is very important. We believe that the Asian Games medal is the highest after the Olympics. I think this medal is shining amidst all the medals. The colour has changed. This medal means a lot to me,” Borgohain said.
New Delhi: Asian Games 2026 gold medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain poses for photographers upon her arrival at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, in New Delhi, early Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (PTI Photo) (PTI10_04_2026_000011B)
“I got a silver medal in the last Asian Games and this time I got a gold medal. This is why it is so special. And to do it on my birthday is extra special.”The victory also continued a curious connection between Borgohain and Japan. Five years ago, Tokyo had brought her an Olympic bronze medal — the breakthrough that changed the trajectory of her career.“I was very excited because I was going to Japan again. I had won a medal in (the) 2020 Olympics in Japan, and my life changed because of that,” she said.“I had a positive mindset before leaving India. I wanted to make it the best tournament of my life. I knew that I could do it because Japan is lucky for me.”
My perspective has not changed because of the medal. When I lose, my self-belief remains the same. Sometimes I am confident, and sometimes I am down. But I am the same person that I was before
Lovlina Borgohain
‘Everything is a game of the mind’
The gold also offered a reminder of Borgohain’s ability to rebuild.Her career has not followed a straight line since the Tokyo Olympics. Injuries, changes in form and the disappointment of the Paris Olympics tested her, while the pressure that came with becoming an Olympic medallist added another layer to the challenge.Borgohain does not, however, see the Asian Games gold as something that has fundamentally changed her.“I don’t think I am looking at myself differently because of this medal. I have won and lost a lot of medals. People’s perspective changes because of the medal. But I am always the same in my own eyes,” she said.
New Delhi: Asian Games 2026 gold medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain poses for photographers upon her arrival at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, in New Delhi, early Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (PTI Photo) (PTI10_04_2026_000007A)
“My perspective has not changed because of the medal. When I lose, my self-belief remains the same. Sometimes I am confident, and sometimes I am down. But I am the same person that I was before.”That mindset became particularly important after Paris 2024, when she failed to reach the medal rounds. Borgohain describes the period as one of the most difficult phases of her career.“I have a 15-year journey. Every time I go to a competition, my mindset is different. When we play, we reach the medal. It is not easy to recover from a tough period. The 2024 Paris Olympics wasn’t an easy period for me mentally,” she said.“But I think everything is a game of the mind. It depends on how we look at it. If we take tough things easy, it becomes easy. If we take easy things hard, it becomes hard. I think that helped me a lot to keep myself calm and relaxed.”
It matters a lot for an athlete because of this medal I am qualifying for the World Championships. I am getting a good treat otherwise I would have to play the Nationals and follow the same process
Lovlina Borgohain
Borgohain qualifies for World Championships
The Asian Games victory has also given Borgohain a more direct route towards the next stage of her career. The gold means she qualifies for the World Championships, rather than having to go through the national selection route. A strong performance there could also put her on the road to another Olympic qualification campaign.“It matters a lot for an athlete because of this medal I am qualifying for the World Championships. I am getting a good treat otherwise I would have to play the Nationals and follow the same process,” she said.
Nishio: India’s Lovlina Borgohain, in blue, competes against China’s Ziyi Bao during a women’s 75kg boxing bout at the 20th Asian Games, in Nishio, Aichi, Japan. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma) (PTI10_02_2026_000066A) *** Local Caption ***
“So that is a big advantage of the medal, and it boosts my confidence that I can do better. If I do well there, then I can qualify for the Olympics also.”For now, though, Borgohain is resisting the temptation to look too far ahead.“There is a lot of planning. But not everything is the same. I am living in the present. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. I will try to live like this. It makes me feel good. I will try to live like this.”
‘Young athletes have stronger mindset’
Borgohain’s gold was part of a strong boxing campaign for India at the Asian Games. India finished the competition with six boxing medals, including three golds, with Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal also winning their respective finals.
In the Asian Games, our Indian team came out on top. I think our athletes are very strong. Their mentality is very good. We used to think that we would not be able to do it. But now our young athletes have the mindset that ‘we have to do it
Lovlina Borgohain
Some months back, Indian boxers had returned with 10 medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, including seven golds. No country had won more golds in boxing at a single edition of the CWG. It was also India’s largest haul in the sport in a CWG.For Borgohain, the improvement reflects a broader change in the mentality of Indian boxers.“We had a very good performance. Both men and women did very well. Everyone knows the results of the Commonwealth Games. The results of the Commonwealth Games changed the results of Indian Boxing,” she said.
Nishio: India’s Lovlina Borgohain, in blue, after winning gold medal in the women’s 75kg final boxing bout against China’s Ziyi Bao at the 20th Asian Games, in Nishio, Aichi, Japan. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma) (PTI10_02_2026_000058A) *** Local Caption ***
“In the Asian Games, our Indian team came out on top. I think our athletes are very strong. Their mentality is very good. We used to think that we would not be able to do it. But now our young athletes have the mindset that ‘we have to do it’.”She also pointed to the support structure around the team, including government backing and the environment created by the coaching staff led by Santiago Nieva.“The support of the government matters a lot. They don’t let us down. We are getting good competition. The environment of our foreign coaches, led by Santiago (Nieva), is very positive. That is why we are getting good results.”For Borgohain, then, the Asian Games gold is both an ending and a beginning — the end of a 12-year wait since Mary Kom’s historic gold and the completion of a personal journey from Hangzhou silver to Nagoya gold.But she is not treating it as a destination. The next target can wait. For now, she is content to live in the moment — with the gold medal still in her hand.
