Grand welcome accorded to Assam's Olympic hero Lovlina Borgohain

GUWAHATI:

On Thursday, the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati, Assam witnessed a sight that every Assamese will remember for a long time. After all, it was the homecoming of Assam’s “pride”, Lovlina Borgohain, after bagging a bronze medal in the just-concluded Tokyo Olympics, the first-ever by an Assamese, and the people couldn’t simply get enough of it.

Hours before the 23-year-old set foot in Guwahati, the atmosphere in the airport was already buzzing with people waiting to welcome the Olympian. With eyes fixed on the exit gate, everyone – from political bigwigs, student leaders, fans, sports enthusiasts, aam janata, to friends and near-and-dear ones – were waiting with bated breath to congratulate the ace boxer. Every passing minute seemed like an hour as the crowd swelled and anticipation doubled. A group of dhulias (drummers) and Bihu dancers too was in the crowd waiting to perform in Lovlina’s honour.

Anxiety was at its peak when the medal-winning boxer shuffled pass the exit gate and the crowd erupted. Applause filled the air as the dhulias broke into a pulsating beat, the dancers, clad in traditional mekhela sador, matched the rhythm with energetic moves, the selfy-seekers pounced on her to get the best shot; in short, the delight and elation among the people was needed to be seen to be believed. For a moment, all the security arrangements went for a toss as everyone circled the Olympian with garlands, gamosas, japis and bouquet of flowers.

Borgohain was officially received by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma along with members of organisations such as All Assam Students Union (AASU) and Asam Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) at the airport.

A generous and warm, Borgohain thanked the people of Assam for their unrelenting support and love. “I am so excited,” she said, adding that, while she is "immensely happy to be finally here in my home state," she regrets ”not being able to go to my village (Baromukhia at Borpathar in Golaghat district) and meet my family.” “I had hoped to win the gold, but could bring only a bronze. I hope to change the colour of the medal in the next Olympic,” said an emotional Borgohain assuring the crowd. After a brief interaction with the people and media, the boxer got into a car and headed out of the airport. 

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