Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: Assam Olympic Association gave a grand felicitation to boxer Lovlina Borgohain for her medal winning performance in Tokyo. The boxer was awarded Rs three lakh along with gamocha, a memento and a citation in the function.
Addressing the gathering the secretary of the Assam Olympic Association Lakhya Konwar congratulated Lovlina for winning bronze medal in welterweight category. He also expressed hope that the boxer would be able to continue her good show in the coming days.
Lovlina, who arrived yesterday, left the city this morning to attend a function in New Delhi on the Independence Day. She will return a couple of days later to reunite with her family. Apart from the Assam Olympic Association several other state and district level sports organizations today felicitated Lovlina in the same function.
Later participating in an interaction progrmme with local media the boxer said, she would meet with a group of local kids with her Olympics medal soon and would also allow them to touch her medal.
"During my early days I always tried same thing when a senior player won medal from a major championship. It was a kind of inspiration for me. I too want to do the same thing. I feel local kids too will inspire and start to perform in their respective fields," said the Arjuna awardee.
Lovlina, who loves to listen music during leisure time, today advocated introducing sports as a compulsory subject in schools. The boxer said, "Sports should be introduced as a compulsory subject in school. If we do that I can assure you that State would produce several champion athletes within next ten years."
Apart from the officials of the Assam Olympic Association the function was also attended by Sports Minister Bimal Borah and MLA of Sarupathar Biswajit Phukan. Borah today handed over four cheques of Rs 10 lakh each to Lovlina for her four former and present coaches. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma yesterday announced these cash incentives for the coaches.
When asked whether medal in Tokyo had brought any change in her the boxer replied negative. "I have remained same as I was before Tokyo Olympics. I always like to stay simple and would remain forever," said the first medal winner from Assam in Olympics.
She also advised the young generation to do whatever they love. "If someone continues to work in the field that she loves I belief one day she will earn success," told the 23 year old boxer.
Meanwhile the secretary of the Assam Amateur Boxing Association Hemanta Kalita today announced that association would organize a function soon in Guwahati so that Lovlina could fulfill her wish to meet the young kids with her Olympic medal.
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