The Assam cabinet on October 9 approved a nominal land premium of Re 1 for a four-bigha plot in Palasbari Revenue Circle to establish a boxing academy named after Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decision after the cabinet meeting, saying the proposed academy near Guwahati would help young boxers from Assam access better training facilities and develop their potential.
“In today’s meeting of Assam Cabinet we cleared the decks for setting up a Lovlina Boxing Academy near Guwahati, so that the next gen of Assam’s Lovlinas can get the best training and make the nation proud,” Sarma said in a post on October 9.
The approval came days after Borgohain returned to Assam following her gold medal-winning performance in the women’s 75kg boxing category at the Asian Games in Japan.
On October 6, Sarma felicitated the boxer at Lok Sewa Bhawan and presented her with a cheque for Rs 50 lakh. He described her victory as a source of national pride and said it would inspire young athletes.
Borgohain defeated China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the 75kg final on October 2, winning gold on her birthday. She became the second Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games gold, following MC Mary Kom’s achievement in 2014.
The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist had previously won silver in the same category at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
On her return, Borgohain was welcomed at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati by Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Biswajit Daimary, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia, family members and supporters. A Congress delegation led by senior leader Pranati Phukan also felicitated her at the airport.
