Lovlina Borgohain recorded a historic victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by beating Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei 4-1 in the women’s welterweight quarterfinals, on Friday. Soon after her victory, congratulatory messages started pouring in as she assured herself of an Olympic medal.

“Welcome to the club,” said the trailblazers of Indian boxing Vijender Singh and MC Mary Kom as they celebrated Lovlina Borgohain’s victory.

While Vijender was the first Indian male boxer to win an Olympic medal in 2008, Mary Kom became the first woman to finish on the podium in the 2012 London edition. Both had won bronze medals and they are hoping that Borgohain would change the colour of the medal in Tokyo.

“Welcome to the club,” the 35-year-old Vijender told PTI.

“We had been waiting for this medal, everyone had worked so hard. I am very happy for her,” said Mary Kom from Tokyo.

Vijender was particularly impressed with Borgohain’s tactics, which reminded him of his own campaigns in the amateur circuit.

“What a fabulous fight. Her tactics were brilliant. She used her right hand so effectively, reminded me of my own days in the amateur circuit. God bless her,” said the 35-year-old.

“She has a tough one in the next round but with that temperament, she can definitely go far,” he added.

Mary Kom shared the sentiment.

“She has always been this understated girl. It is a medal worth celebrating,” she said.

Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh pointed out her struggles and said they have been waiting for this moment while calling her a “born fighter”.

“She was down with COVID last year and was admitted in the hospital. Her mother too was going through a life-threatening ailment. But Lovlina is a born fighter. This is a huge milestone for Indian boxing and the way this young girl has proved herself makes us all proud.”