'I am addicted to boxing and still hungry for more medals': Lovlina Borgohain sets sights on World Championships

Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain has decided to continue her boxing career and pursue another Olympic medal after missing the podium at the Paris Games last August. The 27-year-old Assam boxer, who had contemplated retirement to focus on her boxing academy, will make her international comeback at the upcoming World Championships in Liverpool on September 4.Borgohain took a break from international competition after the Paris Games, dedicating time to establish her academy, which opened in June in Guwahati."When I thought about starting my academy, I had planned to play until Paris (Olympics), and then maybe quit playing. But the result in Paris wasn't what I had expected. Had I won a medal there, that could have been my farewell," Borgohain told PTI.The boxer narrowly missed securing back-to-back Olympic medals in Paris, losing in the quarterfinals of the women's middleweight division to eventual champion Li Qian of China.When asked about the possibility of the 2028 Los Angeles Games being her farewell if she achieves a podium finish, Borgohain responded: "Yes, that is possible.""I could have won gold in the Paris Olympics as well because all those women who stood on the podium, I have beaten them all before. I have defeated the champion, the silver medallist has lost to me twice, and I have also beaten both bronze medallists. That shows my level and I know I can win another Olympic medal. That keeps me going," she said.The reigning 75kg world champion acknowledges the challenges ahead, having participated in only one national-level tournament as preparation."I'll be competing internationally after a long break. I got only a month to prepare, so I have been working on endurance and also on strength," Borgohain stated.The World Championships will mark the first major tournament under World Boxing, the new global governing body that replaced IBA."IBA has been replaced by World Boxing, I haven't played a single WB event. The weight categories have also changed, so many boxers will be moving around. It will be challenging," she noted.Despite her impressive collection of medals, including Olympic bronze, multiple World and Asian Championships medals, and an Asian Games silver, Borgohain remains motivated for more success."I am addicted to boxing and still hungry for more medals," she expressed.Her time away from competition has been productive, focusing on developing her academy."But my time away from the ring has been rewarding. I was working on my academy, taking care of every little detail. It was a very fulfilling experience because we are contributing to the country, that feeling is somewhere even better than winning a medal. There won't just be one Lovlina from Assam but many. I always dreamt of giving back to the country. Boxing has given me so much, this is the first step," she added.