Key Highlights
- The decision: Assam Cabinet approved four bighas of land at a token ₹1 premium for the Lovlina Boxing Academy.
- Location: Under the Palasbari Revenue Circle, near Guwahati.
- The size: Four bighas is roughly 1.3 acres.
- Reward: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier gave Lovlina ₹50 lakh after her Asian Games gold.
- Her feat: She won 75kg gold on her birthday, October 2, beating China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0.
The Assam Cabinet on Friday approved a token land premium of ₹1 for setting up a boxing academy named after Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain. Four bighas of land have been earmarked for the Lovlina Boxing Academy under the Palasbari Revenue Circle, near Guwahati.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the academy would give aspiring boxers access to quality training and help produce more athletes who can win laurels for the country.
A Week of Celebration
The decision comes days after Lovlina returned home from the Asian Games in Japan.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| October 2 | Won 75kg gold, beating China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0, on her birthday |
| Return to Assam | Welcomed at Guwahati airport by ministers, party leaders, family and fans |
| October 6 | Felicitated at Lok Sewa Bhawan; received ₹50 lakh from the CM |
| October 9 | Cabinet approves land for Lovlina Boxing Academy |
She became the second Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games gold, after M.C. Mary Kom in 2014. She had earlier won silver in the same category at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Why It Matters: Turning One Medal Into Many
Cash rewards celebrate a champion; an academy can create more of them. Four bighas, roughly 1.3 acres, offers space for a proper training centre close to Guwahati, where young boxers from across the state could train without having to move far away.
Lovlina herself rose from Baromukhia village in Golaghat district, without the kind of facilities top athletes have today. An academy bearing her name could give the next Lovlina an easier path to the ring.
The idea also follows a familiar path in Indian boxing: Mary Kom, the only other Indian woman to win Asian Games boxing gold, has also run an academy to train young boxers in her home state.
Support Across Parties
Lovlina’s homecoming drew support from across the political spectrum. Alongside Sports Minister Biswajit Daimary and state BJP president Dilip Saikia, a Congress delegation led by Pranati Phukan also felicitated her at the airport.
The Bottom Line
From a birthday gold in Japan to an academy in her name back home, Lovlina Borgohain’s journey is now set to open doors for future boxers from Assam.
With inputs from IANS.