New Delhi: India witnessed yet another loss of gold at the edge, after Boxer Lovalina Borgohain lost the first two rounds against top seed Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in Women’s Welter (64-69kg) category semis on Wednesday. Lovalina lost the first round 0:5 as all the judges gave the decision in favor of the Turkish boxer.
Lovalina was out boxed by the reigning world champion in the third and the last round. Lovalina lost the race to the final, yet joined the Indian Boxing elite making her way to bronze; she is the third Indian boxer after Vijendar Singh and Mary Kom to bring home an Olympic medal.
Cursing past Germany’s Nadine Apetz, Lovalina had tough Round of 16 bouts, where she succeeded via split decision.
During her quarter finals, Lovalina punched her way to the semi-finals defeating Chinese Taipie’s Nien-Chin Chen with 4:1 score.
Earlier today, wrestlers Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia won their initial two bouts to reach semi-finals. Both wrestlers will be in action later in the day and a win will assure both of at least a silver medal.
However, India’s youngest athlete, boxer Anshu Milak, tasted disappointment.
In javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra qualified for finals in his first attempt as he went past the flagged mark of 83.5m. Chopra registered a throw of 86.65m and topped the Group A.