Assam daughters, Lovlina Borgohain and Jintimoni Kalita make state and nation proud

While Jintimoni Kalita helped Mumbai Indians to win the first Women's Premier League, Lovlina Borgohain won her first World Championships gold medal

It was a big day for Assam yesterday (March 26) as two daughters of the state, ace boxer Lovlina Borgohain and state’s first woman cricketer Jintimoni Kalita brought laurels to the state and the nation.

While Jintimoni Kalita was one of the Mumbai Indians players who contributed to the team winning the first Women’s Premier League (WPL) held at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium, Lovlina Borgohain won her first World Championships gold medal in the 75 kg category final at the Women’s World Boxing Championships held at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, New Delhi.

Mumbai Indians registered a thrilling seven-wickets victory defeating Delhi Capitals to win the first Women’s Premier League trophy.

Lovlina won the gold medal defeating Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Caitlin Parker of Australia by a 5-2 verdict in the 75 kg category final at the Women’s World Boxing Championships.

Jintimoni Kalita hails from Assam’s Mangaldoi. She is a left-handed batter. Mumbai Indians paid Rs 10 lakh to but the 19-year-old cricketer at the WPL auction. She is the first woman cricketer of Assam to be playing Premier League cricket.

Before eventually getting selected for the Indian Under-19 Women’s Quadrangular series last year, Kalita had previously participated in the Challengers Trophy on two occasions. She was on the list of probable players for the first U-19 World Cup, however, she was unable to make the final squad.

A former Muay Thai practitioner, Lovlina hails from Assam’s Golaghat district. She is the first female athlete and the second boxer from Assam to represent the state in the Olympics. In 2020, she became the sixth person from Assam to receive Arjuna Award.

She also won a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in the women’s welterweight event, becoming only the third Indian boxer to win a medal at the Olympics.

Lovlina got interested in boxing after seeing her twin sisters, Licha and Lima take up kickboxing and followed the same trail.

The Sports Authority of India held trials at her high school Barpathar Girls High School, where Borgohain participated.
She was noticed and selected by renowned Coach Padum Chandra Bodo at the SAI STC Guwahati in 2012 to learn the basics of boxing and to achieve excellence in boxing. She was later coached by Sandhya Gurung.

Copy edited by Lipika Roy

Also Read: Lovlina Borgohain wins her maiden World Championships Gold Medal

COMMENTS