Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain faced a shocking defeat in the opening round of the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Bulgaria, on February 5.
The Indian pugilist suffered disqualification against Ireland’s O’Rourke Aoife in a pre-quarterfinal bout, marking a disappointing start to her campaign.
The referee disqualified Borgohain just 1 minute and 18 seconds into round three of the bout after she received her third warning for excessive grappling.
Despite winning the first two rounds 3-2, Borgohain had points deducted in each round, leaving her trailing as the match entered its final moments.
With Aoife adopting an aggressive approach, Borgohain struggled to land punches effectively, resorting to clinching repeatedly throughout the bout, which ultimately led to her disqualification.
Meanwhile, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (50kg) and Sakshi Chaudhary (57kg) kicked off their campaigns with differing results.
Paris-qualified Nikhat secured a narrow 3-2 victory over Mongolia’s Oyuntsetseg Yesugen in a fiercely contested match.
On the other hand, Sakshi dominated her opponent, Selmouni Chahira of Algeria, with swift movements and surprise attacks, clinching a comfortable 5-0 unanimous decision win.
Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti Pawar (54kg) faced a tough battle against Fay Niamh of Ireland, ultimately suffering a narrow 2-3 defeat.
Despite a remarkable comeback in the third round, Preeti fell short as Fay claimed victory.
The tournament continues with intense competition as boxers strive to showcase their skills and secure victories in pursuit of glory.
Borgohain’s unexpected disqualification came as a shock to many, while Nikhat and Sakshi’s triumphs offer hope for Indian boxing enthusiasts in the tourney.
The Strandja Memorial Tournament stands as one of Europe’s most time-honored international sports events. Featuring approximately 300 boxers representing 30 nations, the tournament promises an environment of fierce competition.
Such rigorous contests serve as invaluable preparation for athletes gearing up for the Paris Olympics.
