Tokyo: On an utterly disappointing day, India’s Lovlina Borgohain brought some cheer for the country as she made her way into the women’s 69kg boxing event quarterfinals with a 3-2 win over experienced German pugilist Nadine Apetz at the Kokugikan Arena on Tuesday.
The Assamese boxer will next face former world champion Chen Nien-Chinof Chinese Taipei next and if she manages to succeed over the fourth seed, India are assured of a second medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The semifinalists are assured of at least a bronze in boxing regardless of the results in the last four stage.
The 23-year-old Lovlina started slow but slowly grew on the bout with her counter-punching attacks. The Indian threw some well-timed jabs against senior Apetz in what was a tight first round. Lovlina won the first bout.
Lovlina looked more dangerous in the second. Not only she dominated with more counter-punches, but the Indian also negated the German’s jabs quite effectively. Her domination continued in the third bout as well thereby ensuring her way into the next round.
