India's Lovlina Borgohain
Credit: PTI Photo
Bengaluru: Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain won't be participating in next month's World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida as the 28-year-old pugilist will undergo surgery for an unidentified injury.
Saweety Boora has been named her replacement in the 75kg (middleweight) category as elite Indian boxers are currently training for the event at the national camp in Patiala for the event since October.
Lovlina, who qualified for the World Cup finals on world ranking points, has skipped the Patiala camp as well, citing the surgery. A senior official confirmed that the 32-year-old Saweety, who was the world champion in the 80kg category in 2023, was considered for the middleweight division instead. Pooja Rani, who won silver in World Cup Stage II in Kazakhstan, will compete in the 80kg category.
The likes of Nikhat Zareen (51kg) and the newly-crowned World Champions Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Minakshi (48 kg) are going to participate as well. In total, 20 Indian boxers (10 women and men each) will be competing in the event at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex from November 14.
The men's squad includes Jadumani Singh (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Sachin (60kg), Hitesh Gulia (70kg). Gulia also won gold and silver at the Stage I (Brazil) and II respectively of the inaugural tournament earlier this year.
World Boxing Cup medallists will earn up to 300 ranking points, which will help in seeding at next year's Elite World Boxing Continental Championships, 2027 World Boxing Championships, and other major tournaments.