Of trusting process & being vocal: Lovlina ready for 2026

ANMOL GURUNG @Chennai

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WITH just nine minutes of ring time at the international level this year, Lovlina Borgohain was predominantly in the background this year. But the Olympic medallist, who made a quiet exit during the World Championships at Liverpool in September, is calm as they come. The period of inactivity might have hurt her reputation but she is far from worried. Off the ring, it was a significant year for the soft-spoken pugilist from Assam, a year that she set in motion her dreams of establishing a platform for young aspirants in her hometown by launching her academy — Lovlina Borgohain Boxing Academy in Barchandra, North Guwahati.

In doing so, the Khel Ratna Award winner has learnt invaluable lessons and she is naturally stoked to make notable strides in her life. Acknowledging that laying the foundation for the said academy had forced her to cut down on her training, she is now geared up to put everything aside and focus on her boxing ahead of 2026. Lovlina’s immediate challenge will be the national championships, which is scheduled to be held from January 5 to 10. In a freewheeling chat with this daily, the 28-year-old spoke about her dreams, both on and off the ring and she also touched upon the challenges she has faced and the significance of speaking up for oneself. Excerpts...