• The Commonwealth Games 2022: Pugilist Lovlina Borgohain makes her way to the quarterfinals

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    The Commonwealth Games 2022: Pugilist Lovlina Borgohain makes her way to the quarterfinals

    In the 70 kg match, Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina outpunched Ariana Nicholson of New Zealand.


    Digital Desk: In a straightforward 5-0 victory over Ariana Nicholson at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday, Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain (70 kg) advanced to the women's light middleweight quarterfinals.


    In the 70 kg match, Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina outpunched Ariana Nicholson of New Zealand. The Indian, who is 15 years her senior, used her long reach to good effect as she wore down her rival.


    In the Gold Coast edition, Lovlina was eliminated in the first round, and just after that, she jumped right in with a barrage of punches.


    However, Nicholson, 39, preferred to conserve energy.


    In the quarterfinals, Lovlina will face Rosie Eccles of Wales. She claimed that her coaches were constantly harassed after her personal coach, Sandhya Gurung, was denied entry to the Games Village upon arrival.


    Gurung, as she was spotted beside ringside, was later granted Village membership.


    Both boxers were cautious in the first round as they got to know each other, but Lovlina was the more aggressive of the two and landed a couple of punches, giving Lovlina the opening round.


    Earlier on Saturday, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won India's first gold medal and Bindyarani Devi took silver in the Women's 55 kg final at the Commonwealth Games 2022, with a combined lift of 202 kg.


    Later, the young South African Amzolele Dyeyi was defeated by Indian boxer Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg), a bronze medalist from the most recent CWG in 2018, by the same margin in the men's featherweight (57kg) division to advance to the pre-quarterfinals.


    Hussamuddin dominated his opponent with his quick hands and nimble footwork.


    The Indian maintained his shape from the start and never let his opponent take the initiative in any of the three rounds.


    While the South African attempted to unsettle the experienced Indian, Hussamuddin was up to the task of denying his opponent any opening.


    In the next round, Hussamuddin will face Md Salim Hossain of Bangladesh for a spot in the quarterfinals.