New Delhi – On her 29th birthday, Indian pugilist Lovlina Borgohain lifted the gold in the women’s 75 kg category at the 2026 Asian Games, besting China’s Bao Jiyi with a clean 5‑0 verdict.

Dominating the Championship Bout

Bao Jiyi tried to dictate the pace from the opening bell, but Lovlina remained composed, exploiting distance and timing to land crisp counters. As the fight progressed, she tightened her grip, disrupting her opponent’s rhythm and earning unanimous scores from all five judges.

A Historic First for India in the 75 kg Division

This victory marks India’s inaugural gold in the women’s 75 kg class at the Asian Games. Earlier editions saw only bronze medals – Kavita Goyat in Guangzhou 2010 and Pooja Rani in Incheon 2014. Lovlina herself upgraded a 2022 Hangzhou silver to the top podium, completing a rare bronze‑silver‑gold ascent.

Joining the Ranks of Mary Kom

With this performance, Lovlina becomes the second Indian woman boxer to stand atop the Asian Games podium, following Mary Kom’s 2014 triumph in the 51 kg category. She also joins the exclusive group of athletes who have earned both silver and gold medals at the Games.

A Nail‑Biting Semifinal Encounter

The road to the final was anything but straightforward. In the semi‑final, she faced Kazakhstan’s Natalya Bogdanova. After a tentative start, Lovlina surged forward, upping her offensive output and edging out a tight 3‑2 split‑decision win – a milestone that made her the first Indian woman boxer to reach consecutive Asian Games finals.

From Olympic Bronze to World Champion

Lovlina’s résumé sparkles with World Championship bronzes (2018, 2019), an Olympic bronze from Tokyo 2020 in the 69 kg division, and a seamless transition to 75 kg where she captured gold at the 2022 Asian Boxing Championships and the 2023 World Championships. She also added silver medals at the 2022 Asian Games and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Her contributions to Indian sport have been honoured with the Arjuna Award (2020), the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2021), and an appointment as Deputy Superintendent of Police in Assam (2022).

Boosting India’s Overall Medal Tally

Lovlina’s gold lifts India’s count at the 2026 Asian Games to 12 golds out of a total of 70 medals (12 gold, 24 silver, 34 bronze), underscoring the nation’s strong showing across archery, shooting, athletics, kabaddi and cricket.