India’s Lovlina Borgohain on Friday defeated Nien-Chin Chen in her quarterfinal bout of Women’s Welterweight (64-69kg) boxing. This effectively meant that India is now assured a medal even though the country’s newest star from Assam is aiming to win the gold medal in her category. However, on Twitter, fans began to use Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s photo to congratulate Lovlina to take a potshot at the politician.
This was because a viral photo of a billboard showed Sarma congratulating Lovlina for qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. The message on the billboard had a giant size photo of Sarma. It read, “Congratulations and best wishes to Lovlina Borgohain (boxer) for qualifying for Tokyo Olympic, 2020. You are the pride of Assam.”
However, the poster had no photo of the athlete. Instead, it carried a giant-size photo of Himanta Biswa Sarma.
No wonder that Twitterati took it upon themselves to drive home a point by politicians’ fake respect for the country’s sporting heroes.
Under the able leadership of Modi ji, #LovlinaBorgohain has secured a medal for India in Olympics. pic.twitter.com/Ty9P43jVSM
— Nimo Tai 2.0 (@Cryptic_Miind) July 30, 2021
Congrats #LovlinaBorgohain for making it through to the semis and ensuring another medal in the #Olympics. pic.twitter.com/Bv6AEiHGOb
— Rahul Mukherji (@RahulMukherji5) July 30, 2021
#LovlinaBorgohain ????
— Thanos pandit. parody ® (@Thanos_pandith) July 30, 2021
A Boxer uncle !???? A real boxer pic.twitter.com/kWChpCQY9P
Lovina looks kind of different in this photo, no? pic.twitter.com/ltFhG6ELyB
— saliltripathi (@saliltripathi) July 28, 2021
Meanwhile, Sarma has taken to his social media page to share a photo of Lovlina to congratulate her on her Olympic glory. He wrote, “This is a BIG punch You continue to make us proud #LovlinaBorgohain and keep India’s flag high & shining at #TokyoOlympics2020. Well done.”
But even here, the BJP leader had to face plenty of trolling. Many criticised him for using his own photo in billboards put up by his government in the state.
This is India’s second medal at the Tokyo Olympics after Mirabai Chanu from Manipur won a silver medal in weightlifting. Incidentally, both medals for India have come from athletes from the north-eastern states.