Guwahati: Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain won the women’s 75kg boxing gold at the 2026 Asian Games on Friday, defeating China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the final to become only the second Indian woman to win an Asian Games boxing gold.
Competing at the Nishio Gymnasium, Lovlina delivered a composed performance against Bao, the reigning 2026 Asian Championships gold medallist, to improve on the silver medal she won at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
The victory also came on Lovlina’s 29th birthday, adding another milestone to a career that already includes an Olympic bronze and medals at the World Championships, Asian Championships and previous Asian Games.
Lovlina had secured a place in the final after a 3-2 split-decision victory over Kazakhstan’s reigning world champion Natalya Bogdanova in the semifinal. She had earlier defeated South Korea’s Seong Suyeon 5-0 in the quarterfinal.
Against Bao, Lovlina made a confident start, taking the opening round 3-2 on the judges’ scorecards. Bao stepped up her aggression in the second round, but Lovlina remained composed and finished strongly to take the round 4-1.
With the gold within reach, Lovlina controlled the third round and again won it 4-1, securing a unanimous 5-0 verdict.
The triumph makes Lovlina only the second Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games gold after Mary Kom, who claimed the women’s flyweight title at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
Her victory also contributes to India’s improved boxing medal haul at the 2026 Asian Games. Indian boxers have already secured six medals, surpassing the four won at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
India has further gold-medal opportunities on Friday, with Parveen Hooda scheduled to contest the women’s 65kg final and Ankush Panghal the men’s 80kg final.