'Hearing the national anthem feels like responsibility and love'
India, Aug. 29 -- Sport has a way of turning personal dreams into collective pride. Few embody this better than Lovlina Borgohain, who vividly recalls the moment her identity as an Assamese boxer grew into something far greater.
"It still gives me goosebumps," she says, recalling her first international medal for India. She adds, "When I stood on that podium and heard the National anthem play, I realised I was no longer just Lovlina. In that moment, Jana Gana Mana felt like responsibility and love for my country rolled into one."
Lovlina finds herself reflecting on the evolution of India's relationship with sport.
"There was a time when even dreaming of becoming a boxer felt almost unreal," the 27-year-old admits. As the conversation shifts to women in sport, she recounts the scepticism she faced while starting out. "People would pat my head and tell me boxing was not for girls," Lovlina shares with a wry smile, adding, "Now those same people celebrate women athletes winning Olympic medals and world titles. That shift is as important as the medals, because it tells young girls that strength has no gender."
Her own trajectory - from a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to clinching the gold medal at the Women's World Boxing Championship in 2023 - has paved the way for others. But for Lovlina, the true reward lies elsewhere: "Each medal has meant something different, but the real victory is seeing girls step into the ring without fear, knowing the country is behind them."
There's a tinge of pride as she looks toward the future of Indian athletics. "When I see parents encouraging their children and stadiums filling up for boxing, wrestling, badminton, hockey, or athletics, each sacrifice feels worth it. This dream is no longer mine alone; it belongs to an entire generation."...
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