Nieva backs Lovlina to turn favourable draw into Commonwealth gold

India’s medal campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games has got an early boost, with Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain assured of at least a bronze medal in the women’s 75kg boxing event. However, head coach Santiago Nieva said the team is focused on going all the way rather than just settling for a place on the podium.

Lovlina advanced straight to the semifinals after receiving a bye in a five-boxer draw. She will take on Tarona Khanum Badi Pasoni Taafaki of Tuvalu on July 31 for a place in the final.

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“We’ve received the draw, and in Lovlina’s weight category there are five boxers. She has a favourable draw and will go directly into the semifinals, where she will face Tuvalu.

“They have sparred before in Belfast, and we’re confident that Lovlina is operating at a higher level. That said, she’s a tough opponent and a southpaw, so we need to be fully prepared and perform at our best. On paper, our main rivals England and Australia are on the other side of the draw and will face each other in the semifinals. While the draw is favourable for us, achieving our goal will require us to beat whoever comes our way,” Nieva told BFI.

With only five boxers in the women’s 75kg category, three athletes received direct entry into the semifinals. Along with Lovlina, Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree and Tuvalu’s Tarona Taafaki also progressed without playing a quarterfinal. England’s Mary-Kate Smith and Nigeria’s Patricia Mbata will contest the lone quarterfinal, with the winner meeting Greentree in the last four.

The semifinal will be Taafaki’s first appearance at a major international event. Her brother, Pasoni Taafaki, is also representing Tuvalu in the men’s 70kg competition.

For Lovlina, the Glasgow Games also present a chance to make up for the disappointment of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she suffered a narrow defeat to Wales’ Rosie Eccles to miss out on a medal. However, with that baggage off her back, the Assam boxer will look to turn that guaranteed medal into silver or, ideally, Commonwealth Games gold.