Photo: Twitter
Guwahati, Aug 13: Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain is looking forward to meeting the youngsters especially children and give them an opportunity to touch and feel the medal.
"No one has asked me this but I want to tell you that I want to inspire the youngsters," Lovlina said on Friday just before she left for New Delhi to attend an event on Independence Day.
"I have a wish. When I come back I want to meet the youngsters of the state. I hope someone would arrange that. I want them to touch the Olympic medal and feel it. Maybe it will inspire them to be world champions in future. When I was a kid, when I learnt about the Olympic medals, I too wanted to touch it and feel it. But I didn't have that opportunity. So, I want to give that opportunity to them," Lovlina said addressing a houseful auditorium at Vivanta by Taj.
On Thursday, Lovlina arrived in Guwahati for the first time after winning the medal and received a rousing welcome. Apart from the state government, hundreds of individuals and organisations were lined up to congratulate and felicitate the Golaghat born pugilist. Lovlina is Assam's first-ever medal winner at the Olympics and she is also the first female athlete from the state to represent the country in the greatest show on earth.
On the changes after she won the medal, Lovlina said that nothing has changed except people's love.
"I remain the same but people have started loving me more because of the medal," said a smiling Lovlina.
She also said that in India, sports should be included as a part of education. "I believe, there can be more Olympic medals from India in future. And for that to happen, sports should be made a part of the education system. It shouldn't be just extracurricular activities," Lovlina reckoned.
"In other countries, sports is compulsory in their education system. Our kids too can work hard but parents are worried about their future. There should be a system where students can get graduation in sports so that it can help them to get a secured future."
Lovlina will return to Assam on August 17 and head to her home at Baro Mukhiya village in Golaghat district.
