I was looking for revenge: Borgohain, after beating Chen

TIL Desk Sports/ She delivered a thoroughly clinical performance to ensure India an Olympic medal on debut, but Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) says she stepped into the ring against former World champion Nien-Chin Chen without a concrete plan, as she knew just a fearless approach would be enough. The 23-year-old Assam boxer was smiling ear-to-ear after making the semi-finals, but also well aware that the task is only half done.

“Isi ladki se 4 baar haar chuki hun (I had lost to her four times earlier), all I wanted to do was prove a point to myself by being fearless against her. I was just looking for revenge,” she said, with a wide grin in an online media interaction. “I enjoyed myself in this bout; khul ke khela (played an open game). There was no strategy, no plan. I knew her from before, the plan wasn’t even needed,” she added.

“In today’s bout the key was that I didn’t take any pressure, it would have been counter-productive. I only tried to give my 100 per cent.” The boxer, who matched the Olympic performance of legends Vijender Singh and M C Mary Kom, will face reigning World champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the last-four stage on August 4. “I have a few days. I will see her videos and figure out what to do with her,” she said.