The Assam Cabinet on October 9 approved a major concession in land premium for setting up a boxing academy named after Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain, reducing the premium to just Re 1 for a four-bigha plot under the Palasbari Revenue Circle.
Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the proposed academy near Guwahati would help nurture young boxing talent from Assam and provide aspiring athletes with access to quality training facilities.
“In today’s meeting of Assam Cabinet we cleared the decks for setting up a Lovlina Boxing Academy near Guwahati, so that the next gen of Assam’s Lovlinas can get the best training and make the nation proud,” Sarma said in a social media post on October 9.
The decision comes days after Borgohain returned to Assam following her gold medal-winning performance in the women’s 75kg boxing category at the Asian Games in Japan.
On October 6, Sarma presented the boxer with a cheque of Rs 50 lakh at Lok Sewa Bhawan, where she was felicitated for her achievement. The Chief Minister said her victory was a matter of national pride and would inspire young athletes across the state.
Borgohain defeated China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the women’s 75kg final on October 2, winning the gold medal on her birthday. With this achievement, she became only the second Indian woman boxer to win an Asian Games gold medal, following MC Mary Kom’s historic feat in 2014.
The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist had earlier won silver in the same category at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Upon her return, Borgohain received a warm welcome at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Biswajit Daimary, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia, her family members and supporters were among those present. A Congress delegation led by senior leader Pranati Phukan also felicitated the boxer at the airport.
The proposed academy is expected to strengthen Assam’s boxing infrastructure and create better opportunities for young athletes aspiring to compete at national and international levels.
