Boxing Ace Lovlina Borgohain

GUWAHATI, July 25: A special signature campaign was organised by the Assam Olympic Association (AOA) on Thursday to send best wishes to Khel Ratna Lovlina Borgohain, the ace boxing sensation from a remote village in Golaghat, as she competes for Gold in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.

The event witnessed scores of people signing on a flex wall and sending their best wishes to the ace boxer.

The event was attended by Assam minister of parliamentary affairs and water resources etc, Pijush Hazarika, Arjuna awardee Monalisa Barooah Mehta, AOA general secretary Lakhya Konwar, Boxing Federation of India secretary general Hemanta Kalita among other dignitaries including sportspersons, support staff, & others.

Speaking on the occasion, , Pijush Hazarika said, “It is a moment of great pride for all of us in Assam that a girl from a remote village in Golaghat has been able to compete at the world stage and to have won an Olympic Medal for the country. Till Lovlina, Assam did not have an Olympic Champion but today, thanks to her brilliant effort, we have a medal.”

“This is a matter of great pride for the people of Assam. Today, we have got together here to send our best wishes to this boxing Ace who is competing again at the Summer Olympics in Paris. I extend my heartiest wish and best of luck to Lovlina Borgohain, who I am sure will give a befitting fight to win the elusive Gold for the country,” Hazarika said.

“I pray to Maa Kamakhya for her success. I’m 100% confident that Lovlina will secure a medal. But, in sports, there may be a change in friction of a second. Whatever it may be, we must stand with our athletes and support them in every way possible. Let’s join to send our love, wishes and support to our athletes as they fight hard to win laurels for the country,” Hazarika further said.

Adding further, Hazarika said, “There was a time, 15 to 20 years ago, when we, the countrymen, used to lament at the lack, or worse, and absence of any medal in Olympics.

This has changed under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji who provided an ecosystem that would support and encourage the players of the country.”

“Today, we have reasonable hope that India, with its strong 117 members team, will win medals and give a befitting fight in all its events. This has been made possible due to important steps taken by the government to develop the sporting ecosystem of the country,” he also said.

“I also thank the Honourable Union Minister and President of Assam Olympic Association, Sarbananda Sonowal Dangoriya for his pursuit to provide all possible support to our athletes in their quest to win for the country. Our Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Dangoriya, is also providing all kinds of support for the promotion and propagation of sports that have created a healthy sporting environment in the state. We have a great team of support, managers and policymakers that are working tirelessly for the elevation of sports and sporting talents of the state to rise and shine in the national and international level,” he added.

The event also witnessed felicitation of Sanjana Baruah from Jorhat who became the first Indian to become a Jury Member in the Shooting segment in the upcoming Paralympics. Renowned Swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika was also felicitated when Hazarika shared his plans to cross the Gulf of Gonsk in Poland, known for its freezing water, as he aims to become the first Indian to complete this.

During the programme, an audio-video presentation by the Assam Olympic Association was shown to the august audience to showcase the journey of India in the Olympics as well as highlight prospects of India in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris. Another audio-video presentation on Lovlina Borgohain was also shown which shared her journey to becoming a world-class Olympian and sportsperson from Assam.

Speaking on the occasion, Arjuna Monalisa Barooah Mehta, said, “This is a wonderful gesture by the Assam Olympic Association to encourage our athletes as well as other budding sporting talents of the future. Not only it will act as a morale booster to our hardworking athletes but it will also encourage our grassroot talent to take inspiration from this.”

“Lovlina Borgohain has given Assam its first Olympic medal, an elusive honour for the people of the state. She is our pride and we must stand behind her completely as she fight at the top stage of world sports, the Olympics. I extend my best wishes to Lovlina and wish her all the best for a wonderful experience at the Olympics,” Mehta said.

“I am sure her stupendous performance at the Olympics will further encourage our youngsters as they get groomed for the future. I am also happy that the government, both at centre and state, are extending all kinds of support for the benefit of the athletes and this has helped improve the sporting atmosphere in the country,” she added.

Speaking on the occasion, Lakhya Konwar said, “After a century, Paris is organising the Olympics, which makes this apex event of sports, a historic moment. It is our good luck that a girl from Assam, Lovlina Borgohain, is competing in this games as she aims to improve her performance of Bronze in Tokyo Olympics.”

“I must also congratulate another girl from Assam, Pranamika Bora, who is in the support staff of the Indian contingent as a Coach Mentor. The 117 members of India is competing in 16 disciplines and we have a huge chance to win a record number of medals in this game,” Konwar said.

“Our young and budding athletes must learn from this event. Even for those events, where India is not competing, our athletes must try and learn the best practices that the top athletes of the world. Today, in this august gathering, it is a great moment that all of us has gathered here to extend our best wishes to Lovlina Borgohain, who, I know, will give a tremendous performance and I hope it will help her win Gold, bringing laurels for the people of India and Assam,” he added.

Read: World Bank to support school education in Assam

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