Boxing
Lovlina Borgohain reaches Asian Games final as Priya Ghanghas, Kapil win bronze
Lovlina Borgohain beat Kazakhstan’s Natalya Bogdanova to reach the 75kg final, while Priya Ghanghas and Kapil Pokhariya won bronze at the Asian Games.
Lovlina Borgohain credited training camp in Belfast for sharpening her preparations ahead of Glasgow. (Photo credit: PTI)
Olympic medal-winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain sealed her place in the 75kg final, but Priya Ghanghas and Kapil Pokhariya signed off with bronze medals at the Asian Games here on Wednesday.
Last edition's silver-medallist, Lovlina eked out a 3-2 split decision win over reigning 70kg world champion Natalya Bogdanova of Kazakhstan in the 75kg semifinal bout.
With the win, she becomes the first Indian woman boxer to reach back-to-back Asian Games finals, assuring the country of at least a silver.
However, 20-year-old Priya, making her Games debut, went down 1-4 to a much more experienced opponent China's Yang Chengyu in a bruising 60kg semifinal bout.
Another Indian debutant, Kapil went down by a similar 1-4 margin to reigning world champion Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan in his 90kg semifinal to settle for bronze.
Indian boxers have bettered their last edition's performance (one silver, three bronze) by ensuring a six-medal haul this time.
Alongside Lovlina, Parveen Hooda (65kg) and Ankush Panghal (80kg) will fight for gold on Friday.
While super-heavy weight boxer Narender Berwal, Priya and Kapil signed off with bronze medals.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Bridge Desk. It is published from a syndicated feed)