Former Sikkim boxer, who fought paralysis, behind Lovlina Borgohain’s Olympics journey

Snippets from the vibrant Northeast that capture politics, culture, society and more in the eight states.

MYITHILI HAZARIKA, The Print,  4 August, 2021 : Sandhya Gurung, Former Sikkim boxer Sandhya Gurung (R) | Facebook | Primula Bhandari

New Delhi: As the country celebrated Assam pugilist Lovlina Borgohain’s medal win at the Tokyo Olympics, in the neighbouring state of Sikkim, Sandhya Gurung’s heart swelled with pride.

After all, Gurung, a former national-level boxer and Borgohain’s coach, had been instrumental in the latter’s transformation from a ‘reluctant sparrer to a lion in the ring’.

“She was a tall, shy girl, but the height advantage got her the attention from Assam in sub-junior camp. She was a bit reluctant in sparring, but we pushed her to fight that fear. Her target was always on the Olympics, ever since she went for the sub-junior world championship in 2013,” Gurung told EastMojo.

Last week, 23-year-old Borgohain assured India of its first boxing medal at the ongoing Olympic Games in Tokyo when she defeated former world champion Nien-Chin Chen to enter the semifinals.

Gurung’s own story is no less incredible. Hailing from Gangtok’s Burtuk area, she fought paralysis to become a national-level pugilist. She was later selected as a coach for the national camp.

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“When she (Borgohain) became a senior around November 2016, she came to me with a request for training…My message to mentor her was no excuse for anything in training, take me as a friend or parent, and she has been sincere in her game and disciplined in her training,” added Gurung.