GUWAHATI: A hero’s welcome was accorded to Olympics medal winner Lovlina Borgohain when she arrived at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport at around 9.30 am on Thursday.
The 23-year-old girl, who made history by being the first to win a medal for the state in the Olympics, was welcomed by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with a hug on the tarmac. Hailing from a remote village in upper Assam’s Golaghat district, she stepped into the boxing ring eight years ago. Sarma patted Lovlina on her back before presenting her with the traditional Assamese ‘gamosa’ (hand towel), a ‘japi’ (traditional headgear) and a bouquet.
Accompanied by sports minister Bimal Borah and parliamentary affairs minister Pijush Hazarika, she came out of the airport under tight security. A red carpet welcome awaited her outside the airport.
Lovlina’s fellow boxers, including world championship medal winner Jamuna Boro, leaders from several organizations, including the All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) and dignitaries from sports associations and her well-wishers felicitated her with gamosas. A cultural troup staged a Bihu dance in welcome. “Lovlina has ignited a billion dreams with her success at the Tokyo Olympics and set an example for budding sports talents in rural areas to aspire to achieve big at the world stage,” the chief minister said.
