Asian Games 2023: Parveen Hooda clinches bronze; Lovlina Borgohain eyes gold in upcoming 75kg final

The 2022 world championship bronze medallist, Parveen faced an uphill battle against Lin and eventually succumbed to a unanimous 5-0 decision in favor of the latter. Lin's significant height advantage played a crucial role in the bout. She effectively leveraged her longer reach to maintain distance and thwart Parveen's attempts to land decisive punches.

Despite trailing in the initial round, the resilient Parveen took an aggressive stance in the subsequent one. However, Lin, aged 27, showcased her seasoned boxing prowess. She evaded Parveen's intensified offensive by nimbly moving around the ring, strategically using her feet. Although Parveen managed to land a few punches sporadically, it wasn't sufficient to sway the judges in her favor.

The setback in the semifinal, however, doesn't overshadow Parveen's achievements. The 23-year-old pugilist has already bagged an Olympic berth, ensuring her participation in the upcoming Paris Games. Her recent bronze adds to India's growing medal tally and cements her position as a promising talent to watch out for.

Remarkably, Parveen is not the sole Indian boxer to clinch a bronze at this edition of the Games. She joins an illustrious list that includes two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen in the 50kg category, Preeti Pawar in the 54kg bracket, and Narender Berwal in the +92kg segment. Each of these boxers showcased commendable performances but faced defeats in their respective semifinals, culminating in bronze medal victories.

The spotlight later in the day will be on the reigning world champion, Lovlina Borgohain, as she gears up for a challenging bout. She'll be facing China's dual Olympic medalist, Li Qian, in the highly-anticipated 75kg final. Boxing enthusiasts and supporters are eagerly waiting to see if India can clinch a gold in this category, adding to the nation's illustrious medal haul in the tournament.