New Delhi: Lovlina Borgohain, the bronze medallist boxer from the Tokyo Olympics, has attributed her unsuccessful performance at last year’s Paris Games to insufficient international exposure and the absence of a personal coach. The 27-year-old was considered one of India’s most promising contenders for a medal at the quadrennial event but was eliminated in the quarter-finals following a split decision defeat to Li Qian of China, the reigning Asian Games champion.

“There were several factors that contributed to our unsuccessful campaign. In terms of skills and mental fortitude, I believe Indian boxers possess the necessary attributes. However, what we lacked during the Paris cycle was adequate guidance and management,” Lovlina stated from Guwahati, where she has resumed her training in preparation for the upcoming National Games.

“I secured the quota at the Asian Games, which took place 8-10 months prior to the Olympics. I believe that instead of sparring with familiar partners in India, the qualified boxers should have been sent abroad for enhanced exposure and quality practice,” she remarked. Although the Indian boxing team participated in the Strandja Memorial tournament in Sofia and a training camp in Montenegro in the lead-up to Paris, Lovlina felt these efforts were insufficient and poorly timed.

“Those trips were of little benefit to those who had already qualified. They were advantageous for those still vying for a spot, but for us, it felt more like a vacation. I hope our training excursions are better organized in the future, allowing for improved sparring opportunities,” Lovlina, who moved up from the 69kg to the 75kg category for Paris, expressed.

The accomplished boxer also suggested that the departure of women’s head coach Bhaskar Bhatt a year before the Games negatively impacted performance. “As the Olympics approached, there was considerable confusion regarding coaching, which is far from ideal. I do not believe that hiring foreign coaches is the solution,” she added.

The Boxing Federation of India appointed Bernard Dunne as the high-performance director in December 2022, followed by the hiring of Dmitry Dmitruk as the foreign coach four months later. While Dunne was dismissed after the Paris Games, Dmitruk remains part of the coaching staff.

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