Olympics reset may force Lovlina into a heavier 75kg class
Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain will have to make a major weight shift for the 2024 Paris Games as her division—69kg—is not one of the six announced for women’s boxing. The International Olympic Committee confirmed the qualification system and categories on Friday.
The women’s competition will now have six divisions (50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 66kg, 75kg)— one more than Tokyo, but without the 69kg in which Borgohain won bronze in Japan. The men’s divisions have been cut (51kg, 57kg, 63.5kg, 71kg, 80kg, 92kg, +92kg) to narrow the gender gap. For the first time in Olympics boxing, an equal number of men and women will enter--124.
Borgohain missing out on welterweight will be a setback. Her bronze at the world championships (2018, 2019) and Tokyo came in 69kg. “The only issue for us is Lovlina’s weight is not there,” India’s high performance director Santiago Nieva said.
The 24-year-old Assamese boxer will now have to drop to 66kg or move up to 75kg. Both will be tough. As a tall boxer, choosing middleweight may be her best option. “She will find it difficult to go to 66kg. She has boxed in 75kg four-five years ago; maybe she will have to move up. Considering her height, skills and experience, she will be able to handle that. She is used to sparring with 75kg boxers. She will have to add some weight and go up,” the Swede said.
She will have to overcome a
fierce rival in Pooja Rani at home. The twice Asian championships winner has dominated middleweight and reached the quarterfinals in Tokyo. “It will be a good rivalry to have two quality boxers in one weight,” said Nieva. “There have been many rivalries at home in several weight categories, competing for an Olympic berth and it is good for Indian boxing.”
Borgohain won the recent selection trials for the world campionships (70kg) and Asian Games (69kg). “She need not make the change this year. It is complex for boxers because of different weight categories in different competitions.”
Nieva said the International Boxing Association (IBA) has done a good job with the weight re-jig and the adding of a women’s division. “There was no perfect way to distribute because there were too few weights. The only option was to jump one weight. “We should be looking to qualify in all 13 categories, irrespective of the adversities. Last time our boxers got nine out of the 13 berths from the first and only Olympic qualification event. It was so important because there was no other Olympic qualifier due to Covid.”