Chief Minister inaugurates the Lovlina Boxing Academy
North Guwahati, June 5: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated the Lovlina Boxing Academy at Barchandra in North Guwahati, an initiative led by Olympic medallist and internationally recognised boxer Lovlina Borgohain.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sarma acknowledged Lovlina’s journey from Barpathar in Golaghat district to winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and representing India at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also highlighted her accomplishments at the Asian Championships, World Boxing Championships, and various national and international events. He noted that her success, along with the honours of the Arjuna Award and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, has significantly contributed to the growth of sports, particularly boxing, in Assam.
The Chief Minister stated that the Lovlina Boxing Academy was established as part of Lovlina’s commitment to give back to society following her Olympic success. Built on land she purchased in 2021 and developed with limited funds, the academy is equipped with essential professional training facilities. It has provisions to train 100 athletes, and to support rural talent, the training fee has been fixed at Rs. 500. He added that Lovlina would personally supervise the academy. He highlighted that boxing holds strong potential as a career path for the youth and noted that Assam has already produced several notable boxers. He expressed confidence that many more would emerge, given the state’s conducive ecosystem for the sport, including experienced athletes, seasoned organisers, and a supportive infrastructure. He called upon the local community to support the trainees at the academy and informed that the State Sports Department has sanctioned Rs. 2 crores for developing hostels and related infrastructure. The government, he stated, would continue to offer necessary assistance.
Dr. Sarma outlined the government’s broader efforts to enhance sports infrastructure in Assam. These include upgrades to the Sarusajai sports complex, reconstruction of Nehru Stadium, ongoing work at the Amingaon sports complex and a new cricket stadium, and a planned project in Chandrapur. A stadium named after Lovlina is also under construction in Sarupathar at a cost of Rs. 25 crores. He further mentioned that medal winners at the National Games are being provided with government jobs, and high-performance centres for injury management and physical training have been established in Jorhat, Guwahati, and Kokrajhar. A Badminton Centre of Excellence has been developed in Amingaon, and a world-class swimming pool is under construction.
The Chief Minister stated that the government plans to construct hostels over the next five years to accommodate 2,000 boys and girls undergoing residential sports training. As part of this initiative, hostels are currently under construction in Amingaon (with a capacity of 200 trainees) and Sarusajai (with a capacity of 500 trainees), with additional facilities proposed at Chandrapur and Dibrugarh Khanikar stadiums. The state would cover all accommodation-related expenses, while the athletes would be expected to focus on their training and performance. He further mentioned that approximately 600 promising athletes have been identified through the Khel Maharan sports initiative, and with appropriate guidance, they may achieve significant success.
Dr. Sarma emphasised that while progress in various sectors is important, national recognition often comes through excellence in fields such as sports, science, and culture. The success of individuals in these areas elevates the standing of the entire state. He encouraged parents to support their children in pursuing sports careers, especially given the expanding opportunities and infrastructure being created by the state government.
The event was also attended by Minister for Sports & Youth Welfare etc. Nandita Gorlosa, MLA Diganta Kalita, Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central Western Range) Indrani Baruah, and the founder of the academy and internationally acclaimed boxer Lovlina Borgohain, and other key figures from the sports community.
