Lovlina Borgohain’s Olympic medal brings hope to Assam village

Golaghat: Ever since boxer and now Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain got selected for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became a household name. She became the first woman in the history of Assam to qualify for the Olympics and is the first to win an Olympic medal. People rallied the loudest for Lovlina when she assured a Bronze medal for India after defeating Nien-Chin Chen in the women’s welterweight (64-69kg) quarterfinal boxing bout. Her medal not only brought pride to India but also gave hope to the people of her village in Assam.

Watch video here to find out how:

Born on October 2, 1997, Lovlina Borgohain hails from Baro Mukhia, a village in Assam’s Golaghat district. Lovlina’s Olympic medal win came as a wake-up call for the Assam government to finally bring development to the Baro Mukhia village, which had been neglected until now. Around 1,300 villagers of Baro Mukhia are witnessing the government’s putting in any effort to develop their area for the first time.

Speaking to EastMojo, Bitul Gohain, a resident of Baro Mukhia, said, “Earlier, the roads were in a terrible state. The roads are being repaired after Lovlina Borgohain went to the Olympics. We have never had an uninterrupted electricity supply for 24 hours straight. There is a power cut every time it rains. The roads were very narrow, such that even a cart cannot pass through. The Panchayat brought around some developments here. But it is because of Lovlina that we are seeing major development here.”

Before Lovlina Borgohain’s heroic win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, communication in her village was dictated by rainfall. Muddy roads were the only connection between the village and the outer world. The gift of a renovated concrete road now awaits Assam’s first female Olympic Medalist and the people of her village.

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