"This Is A Big Punch": India Cheers Lovlina Borgohain, In Olympics Semis

Minutes after boxer Lovlina Borgohain cruised past Nien-Chin Chen in her quarterfinal bout of Women's Welter (64-69kg) on Friday, of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted to congratulate the pugilist.

"This is a BIG punch. You continue to make us proud #LovlinaBorgohain and keep India's flag high & shining at #TokyoOlympics2020," Mr Sarma tweeted.

This is a BIG punch ❤️

You continue to make us proud #LovlinaBorgohain and keep India's flag high & shining at #TokyoOlympics2020.

Well done ???? @LovlinaBorgohai pic.twitter.com/RYFACkNXUN

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 30, 2021

The win has also assured India of at least a bronze medal.

"Lovlina has entered the Semi Finals! Well done @LovlinaBorgohai, what an amazing news for India to wake up to today! We've been glued to the tv screen watching you in action!" tweeted Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.

Lovlina will now take on top seeded Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the semi-final bout. With her historic win, Lovlina became only the second Indian female boxer after Mary Kom to clinch an Olympic medal.

Hearty congratulations to Young Indian boxer @LovlinaBorgohai for assuring a second medal for #India at the #TokyoOlympics by reaching semi finals in the women's welterweight category. pic.twitter.com/R55dAfbhB1

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) July 30, 2021

Businessman Anand Mahindra, celebrating her win, implored her to get India a "shinier medal".

"You've made us greedy @LovlinaBorgohai Feel the power of a billion wishes in every punch of yours…and get us a shinier medal…," tweeted Mr Mahindra.

Last week, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, 26, had won India's first-ever silver medal in the weightlifting discipline at Olympics. The weighlifter from Manipur had clinched the silver with a total lift of 202kg (87kg Snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk).