Tokyo Bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain will go head to head with Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad in the first round of the women’s 75 kg category. If she wins, she will go up against two-time Olympic medalist Li Qian, who previously defeated her in the Asian Games gold medal match.
Even if Lovlina manages to defeat Qian, the competition will intensify as a win would lead her to face fifth-seeded world silver medalist Caitlin Parker of Australia or Morocco’s world champion fourth-seeded Khadija El-Mardi in the quarterfinals.
Lovlina's road to getting closer to the Olympic medal will not be easy as she has been handed tough draws in her 75 kg category at the Paris Olympics 2024.
But Lovlina's father, Tiken Borgohain, is confident in her daughter's victory.
"She has been practising hard, and I am confident that she will give her 100% to the game. We are confident that the result will be good. I know she will go great at the Olympics,' Tiken Borgohain told News Arena India.
Borgohain said that, at this point, she doesn't care about herself. "Her entire focus is on winning the matches. But when we talk on the phone, it is the usual conversation about food and not so much about the game. We try not to pressure her at all."
He added that Lovlina calls them every day and speaks with him, her mother, and her sister. "Most of our conversations revolve around kya khaya (what did you eat)."
Borgohain admitted that the family is slightly nervous because the stakes are very high.
"This is a huge game. This is her dream. She wants to change the colour of her medal -- from Bronze to Gold -- and she is very confident in her abilities. All Assamese and everyone in India is praying for her. We are confident she will bring gold this year," Borgohain said.