Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

‘OLYMPICS KI JOURNEY ABHI ADHURI HAI’

Boxer Lovlina Borgohain won bronze at Tokyo 2020, her debut Olympics, but hopes to fulfil her golden dream at Paris 2024

- Mallika Bhagat

Mann Awaaz: Pratigya (MKAP), also appeared in many

including Bandit Queen 4), Satya (1998), Lagaan

0), Hazaaron Khwaishein (2005) and Slumdog onaire (2008). thorough profession­al, he ld shoot despite rgoing dialysis on a lar basis. As soon as the s broke, love and olences began pouring in hyam from friends and ctors such as Manoj ayee, Manoj Joshi and ni Awasthi, among others. s last co-star, Pooja Gor, was 18 when she debuted KAP in 2009, recalls how uraging Shyam was rds a newbie like her. She “During season one, I really young, had just n acting and was trying to y best. But when he saw erform and thought he d help, he did. He brought i books and I would read ge daily. His zest for life dedication towards his ession was admirable.” s co-star from Lagaan and hbourhood pal, Sharma, that he admired his talent had seen many of his s in Delhi: “Lagaan was irst work associatio­n and eafter, we did two films. te, he was struggling to tain sugar levels and had ke insulin injections. Yet, ould never let it show.” a statement, producer n Shahi shared that he

Her childlike smile tries hard to hide her disappoint­ment at not being able to fulfil her ‘golden’ dreams during her maiden Olympics, at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain won a bronze medal and the hearts of billions, but confesses she’s “disappoint­ed”.

“Mera sapna gold ka tha. Abhi mujhe gold nahin bronze mila, toh meri Olympics ki journey abhi adhuri hai,” says the Arjuna awardee, adding, “Till the time I don’t win a gold medal, I’ll keep fighting!”

The 23-year-old from Assam’s Baromukhia village in Golaghat district, gave it all in the ring to win the boxing bronze in the 69kg category at the recently concluded Games. “It was very difficult, but I knew that going to the Olympics will not come easily,” she says talking about her journey. She became the third Indian boxer –- after MC Mary Kom and Vijender Singh –to win an Olympic medal in boxing till date.

The Tokyo experience has only left her more determined than ever. “I’m happy in spite of all the challenges I faced, I could win a medal for my country, and make my India proud,” says the boxer, who missed a training camp before the Olympics as she was

As he lived close to my house, we would meet often. He was a bindaas and fakeer kind of a person who loved to laugh and share stories from his past.

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 ?? PHOTO: SAJJAN SINGH ??
PHOTO: SAJJAN SINGH
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PHOTO: INSTAGRAM
 ?? PHOTO: YOGEN SHAH ??
PHOTO: YOGEN SHAH

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