Indian boxing star Lovlina Borgohain has revealed that she considered retiring from the sport after the Paris Olympics. The Tokyo Games bronze medalist had initially planned to step away from the ring to focus on her newly established boxing academy in Guwahati, but her quarterfinal exit in Paris has fueled a new determination to continue her career.
Lovlina, who lost to eventual gold medalist Li Qian of China in the women's middleweight (75kg) quarterfinal, admitted that a medal win in Paris would likely have been her farewell to the sport. "Had I won a medal there, that could have been my farewell," the 27-year-old said. The defeat, however, has reignited her ambition to secure a second Olympic podium finish, with a possible farewell at the 2028 Los Angeles Games now on the cards.
The time away from the ring since the Paris Games has been focused on a different kind of fulfillment: launching her boxing academy, which was inaugurated in June. For Lovlina, this venture is a way of "contributing to the country" and giving back to the sport that has given her so much. "There won't just be one Lovlina from Assam but many," she said, expressing her dream of nurturing future champions.
Despite the setback in Paris, Lovlina remains confident in her abilities, noting that she has previously defeated all the medalists from the 75kg category at the Paris Olympics. "I have defeated the champion, the silver medallist has lost to me twice, and I have also beaten both bronze medallists," she stated, emphasizing that this knowledge keeps her "going" and reinforces her belief that she can win another Olympic medal.
Lovlina is now preparing for her international comeback at the upcoming World Championships in Liverpool, which begins on September 4. The reigning 75kg world champion, who is a three-time Worlds medalist, acknowledged that her preparation has been limited due to the break, but she is focused on building her endurance and analyzing her opponents. The tournament will also be significant as it will be her first event under the new global governing body, World Boxing, a transition that brings new challenges with changes in weight categories.