'Need time to recover': Lovlina Borgohain skips Boxing World Cup Finals after nose treatment

New Delhi: Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain will not compete in the season-ending World Boxing Cup Finals in India, TOI has learnt. The former middleweight world champion, who had qualified based on her world ranking in the 75kg weight division, withdrew after undergoing treatment for a nose-related issue.

The tournament is scheduled from Nov 16-20 at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida. Lovlina has informed the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) of her withdrawal. “Yes, I won’t participate in the event. I have taken my name back. I had some nose-related issue and underwent treatment for the same. It didn’t require surgery. I am doing fine but I need some time to recover,” Lovlina said. It’s been learnt that the boxer went for the reshaping of her nose due to an enlarged nasal bone. In her absence, Saweety Boora – a former world champion in the 80kg category – has been named as a replacement in the 75kg division. Pooja Rani will compete in the 80kg class, taking Saweety’s place. Due to her impending treatment, the 28-year-old Lovlina skipped the preparatory camp for the event, currently underway at NIS Patiala. India will field a full-strength squad at the Finals with 10 boxers each in the men’s and women’s weight categories.

Only the world’s top eight men and women boxers in each division qualify, but World Boxing – the sport’s global governing body – has extended a special privilege to India as host nation. India will be the only country to field all 10 boxers in both divisions. Based on world rankings, Minakshi Hooda (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Pooja (80kg) and Nupur Sheoran (+80kg) qualified for the Finals.

The remaining women team members – Saweety (75kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen (60kg), Neeraj Phogat (65kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) – received entries as host nation representatives. In the men’s competition, Jadumani Singh (50kg) and Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) qualified on ranking, while the other eight participants will compete by virtue of India hosting the event. The tournament will bring together 130 elite boxers from 18 nations across four continents.