India, Sept. 30 -- Lovlina Borgohain was in trouble after losing the first-round card against Kazakhstan's Natalya Bogdanova in the boxing middleweight (75kg) semifinal at the Asian Games. Bogdanova, the 70kg world champion, was scoring with her stinging jab. Lovlina, however, made a gritty comeback in the next two rounds, producing a fine display of counter-attacking boxing to storm into the final.

The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist was quick to defend and counter, landing clean punches in the second round. In the third, she was more aggressive, while Bogdanova's punches were falling short. It was still a close contest, and Lovlina won by a split decision. She is now among three Indian boxers who will be fighting for gold on Friday.

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