How Lovlina Borgohain got India Commonwealth Games 2026 medal before opening ceremony
Lovlina Borgohain moved straight into the Commonwealth Games 2026 women's 75kg semifinals after a bye. That put India on the medals table before the opening ceremony, with at least bronze already assured.
India have reason to celebrate at the Commonwealth Games 2026 even before the opening ceremony has taken place. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain became the country's first guaranteed medallist after securing a direct place in the women's 75kg category semifinals on Thursday, July 23.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026: INDIA SCHEDULE
The Olympic medallist received a bye in the final four in her category, which means that she is assured of atleast the bronze medal. Under the Commonwealth Games boxing format, both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals, meaning Lovlina is guaranteed a place on the podium before stepping into the ring in Glasgow.
Now, Lovlina will kick off her campaign on July 31 against T.K.B.P. Taafaki, with a place in the gold medal bout at stake. A win will take the Indian boxer into the final, while a loss would still see her return with the bronze medal she has already secured.
HOW DID LOVLINA REACH THE SEMIFINALS?
Seeded No. 1 in the women's 75kg middleweight category, Lovlina advanced straight to the semifinals after receiving a bye in a five-boxer field. With only five athletes competing in the division, three, including the Indian, were handed direct semifinal berths, while the remaining two will contest the lone quarterfinal.
This comes as a welcome relief for India as it will boost their hopes of breaching the 30-medal mark this time around. India finished with 61 medals last time in Birmingham, but with the events being trimmed to just 10 in Glasgow, there were doubts if the nation could replicate the same form they showed four years ago.
Wrestling, badminton, table tennis, hockey, and cricket all brought medals home for India, and none of them are part of the events list this time. All these events combined to give India a total of 28 medals in Birmingham.
While there is hope with athletics and weightlifting, every medal will count this time and Lovlina getting a bye will be welcomed by the Indian contingent. The boxer from Assam will also be one of India's flagbearers during the opening ceremony on Thursday.
India have reason to celebrate at the Commonwealth Games 2026 even before the opening ceremony has taken place. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain became the country's first guaranteed medallist after securing a direct place in the women's 75kg category semifinals on Thursday, July 23.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026: INDIA SCHEDULE
The Olympic medallist received a bye in the final four in her category, which means that she is assured of atleast the bronze medal. Under the Commonwealth Games boxing format, both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals, meaning Lovlina is guaranteed a place on the podium before stepping into the ring in Glasgow.
Now, Lovlina will kick off her campaign on July 31 against T.K.B.P. Taafaki, with a place in the gold medal bout at stake. A win will take the Indian boxer into the final, while a loss would still see her return with the bronze medal she has already secured.
HOW DID LOVLINA REACH THE SEMIFINALS?
Seeded No. 1 in the women's 75kg middleweight category, Lovlina advanced straight to the semifinals after receiving a bye in a five-boxer field. With only five athletes competing in the division, three, including the Indian, were handed direct semifinal berths, while the remaining two will contest the lone quarterfinal.
This comes as a welcome relief for India as it will boost their hopes of breaching the 30-medal mark this time around. India finished with 61 medals last time in Birmingham, but with the events being trimmed to just 10 in Glasgow, there were doubts if the nation could replicate the same form they showed four years ago.
Wrestling, badminton, table tennis, hockey, and cricket all brought medals home for India, and none of them are part of the events list this time. All these events combined to give India a total of 28 medals in Birmingham.
While there is hope with athletics and weightlifting, every medal will count this time and Lovlina getting a bye will be welcomed by the Indian contingent. The boxer from Assam will also be one of India's flagbearers during the opening ceremony on Thursday.
India have reason to celebrate at the Commonwealth Games 2026 even before the opening ceremony has taken place. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain became the country's first guaranteed medallist after securing a direct place in the women's 75kg category semifinals on Thursday, July 23.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026: INDIA SCHEDULE
The Olympic medallist received a bye in the final four in her category, which means that she is assured of atleast the bronze medal. Under the Commonwealth Games boxing format, both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals, meaning Lovlina is guaranteed a place on the podium before stepping into the ring in Glasgow.
Now, Lovlina will kick off her campaign on July 31 against T.K.B.P. Taafaki, with a place in the gold medal bout at stake. A win will take the Indian boxer into the final, while a loss would still see her return with the bronze medal she has already secured.
HOW DID LOVLINA REACH THE SEMIFINALS?
Seeded No. 1 in the women's 75kg middleweight category, Lovlina advanced straight to the semifinals after receiving a bye in a five-boxer field. With only five athletes competing in the division, three, including the Indian, were handed direct semifinal berths, while the remaining two will contest the lone quarterfinal.
This comes as a welcome relief for India as it will boost their hopes of breaching the 30-medal mark this time around. India finished with 61 medals last time in Birmingham, but with the events being trimmed to just 10 in Glasgow, there were doubts if the nation could replicate the same form they showed four years ago.
Wrestling, badminton, table tennis, hockey, and cricket all brought medals home for India, and none of them are part of the events list this time. All these events combined to give India a total of 28 medals in Birmingham.
While there is hope with athletics and weightlifting, every medal will count this time and Lovlina getting a bye will be welcomed by the Indian contingent. The boxer from Assam will also be one of India's flagbearers during the opening ceremony on Thursday.
