Tokyo Olympic Medallist Lovlina Borgohain arrives in Assam

GUWAHATI:  Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain arrived here on Thursday to a warm welcome as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received her at the LGB International Airport.

Borgohain, who clinched the welterweight (69kg) bronze, is scheduled to be felicitated by the state government in the afternoon.

As she glided down the steps of the aircraft, Sarma patted Borgohain on the back, before presenting her with the traditional Assamese ‘gamosa’ (hand towel), ‘japi’ (head gear) and a bouquet.

“With pride and glory, I welcomed our star Olympian medallist Lovlina Borgohain at Guwahati airport. Lovlina has ignited a billion dreams with her success at the Tokyo Olympics, and set an example for budding sports talents in rural areas to aspire to achieve big at the world stage,” he said. Sarma was accompanied by Sports Minister Bimal Borah.

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The 23-year-old boxer then boarded a bus, customised with huge cut-outs of her, and headed to a city hotel where she will rest before being felicitated by the Assam government at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra here later in the day.

Borgohain is also slated to meet Governor Jagadish Mukhi in the evening.

She will, however, not visit her village Baromukhiya in Golaghat during this visit, but return to Delhi to attend the Independence Day event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Olympic medallists.

Borgohain became only the third Indian boxer to finish on the Olympic podium, joining two of the biggest icons in Indian boxing — six-time world champion M C Mary Kom and the very-decorated Vijender Singh.