Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain is targeting early qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics after winning Asian Games gold, with the 2027 World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan expected to offer her first qualification opportunity.
Fresh from her Asian Games gold medal triumph, Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain has shifted her focus towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with the 2027 World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan emerging as a crucial early opportunity in her qualification journey.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has decided that Asian Games medallists will be the main entries for the 2027 World Boxing Championships. The tournament is set to serve as the first official qualification event for the LA28 Olympics, giving Lovlina an opportunity to secure her Olympic berth at the earliest stage of the qualification process.
Lovlina is keen to make the most of that opportunity. The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist believes qualifying at the first available chance would provide her with valuable time to prepare specifically for the Games in Los Angeles.
“We always try our best to qualify in the first qualification (chance) only. It is a very good thing for an athlete. The way hockey has done it, they will get a long time to prepare. Our target is to qualify in the first qualification, get a good time and get good results,” Lovlina told IANS on Sunday.
An early qualification would allow Lovlina and other successful Indian boxers to avoid the prolonged pressure of chasing an Olympic quota through multiple stages. More importantly, it would provide them with a longer preparation period to work on their technical, physical and tactical requirements ahead of the 2028 Games.
Lovlina’s Asian Games gold has strengthened her confidence as she looks ahead to the next phase of her career. However, she does not see the continental triumph merely as a response to her disappointment at the Paris Olympics, where she could not secure a podium finish.
Instead, the boxer wants to appreciate the achievement on its own terms and enjoy the success without allowing outside expectations to dictate her approach.
“I have not thought of anything like that. I just said that I have won the moment. This is my medal. I just have to enjoy it. I don’t have to answer anyone. I don’t have to prove anything. I don’t have to do anything. I just have to enjoy my medal,” she said.
The Asian Games also gave Lovlina an opportunity to assess the broader development of Indian boxing. Recent medal-winning performances across different weight categories have highlighted the growing depth within the country’s boxing programme.
According to Lovlina, the progress cannot be attributed to one particular division or group of athletes. She believes boxers across weight categories are putting in equal effort, while a stronger competitive mindset has helped Indian athletes produce better results.
“I think everyone does hard work. Everyone does hard work. Both heavyweight and lightweight boxers work equally hard. Everyone does the same amount of hard work. Sometimes you get a medal, sometimes you don’t. But the hard work is not less,” she said.
Lovlina pointed to the demanding nature of training camps, where athletes remain focused on their preparations and work consistently towards their goals.
“So, the mindset has changed somewhere between our athletes. We have a champion mindset. That is why we are doing well. And we are getting support from the government. That is also the reason why our performance is good,” she added.
For the Assam-born boxer, developing a champion mindset is closely linked to self-belief. She believes young athletes, in particular, must learn to trust their abilities despite criticism, setbacks or doubts from others.
“I would like to say that it is more important to trust yourself. The world will say anything. You should never break your trust. If you think you can do it, then you can do it,” Lovlina said.
Her Asian Games victory also reminded her of one of the most emotional rewards of representing India at the international level. For athletes, hearing the national anthem while standing on the podium is a moment that makes years of sacrifice and hard work worthwhile.
“It is a very good feeling. We are not allowed to go around the world with our national flag. But when the national anthem is played, our flag comes up. That is a very special moment. That feeling is the dream of every athlete,” she said.
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With the 2027 World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan potentially providing her first LA28 qualification opportunity, Lovlina now has a clear objective. She wants to convert her Asian Games momentum into early Olympic qualification and then use the additional preparation time to arrive in Los Angeles in the best possible shape.
For Lovlina, the journey towards another Olympic appearance has already begun. The immediate target is qualification at the first opportunity, followed by a focused preparation campaign for what could be another major chapter in her international boxing career.
