Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 6 honoured boxer Lovlina Borgohain with a cheque for Rs 50 lakh following her gold medal-winning performance at the Asian Games in Japan.
Borgohain was felicitated at Lok Sewa Bhawan after returning to Assam from the Games. Sarma described her achievement as a matter of pride for the nation and said it would inspire the next generation of athletes.
She had earlier received a warm welcome at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, where Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Biswajit Daimary, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia, family members and supporters gathered to receive her.
Saikia said India had won 21 gold medals at the Asian Games and described Borgohain’s victory as a significant achievement for Assam.
“Recently in the Asian Games, India won 21 gold medals. Among them, Assam’s daughter Lovlina Borgohain won a medal in boxing. Today, to welcome Lovlina Borgohain to Assam, members of the BJP, BJYM (Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha), and the youth of Assam gathered at Guwahati Airport,” Saikia said.
The Congress also felicitated Borgohain at the airport. A delegation led by senior Congress leader Pranati Phukan welcomed her with a gamosa, bouquet and jaapi. Senior leaders Bipul Gogoi, Bedabrata Bora, Udit Bhanu Das, Gunakanta Gogoi, Mousumi Neog and Debajit Deka were present.
Borgohain won the 75kg gold on October 2, her birthday, defeating China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the final. She became the second Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games gold after MC Mary Kom achieved the feat in 2014.
The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist had previously won silver in the same category at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Speaking to reporters at the airport, Borgohain thanked the people of Assam for their support.
