Tokyo: Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) signed off with a bronze medal in the Olympic Games after a comprehensive 0-5 loss to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli here on Wednesday, bringing an end to the country's campaign in the sport here.
Up against quite literally a bully in the ring, Borgohain was completely out-punched by the gold medal favourite, who produced a thoroughly dominating performance.
The Assam boxer also coped a one point deduction in the second round for not paying attention to the referee's instructions despite a couple of cautions.
The Indian's start was not all that bad as she stood up to the strong challenge but she came undone after Surmeneli got down to connecting her vicious hooks and body shots.
The third round was especially punishing for Borgohain, who faced two standing eight counts during the bout.
Nonetheless, Borgohain goes home a history-maker as the 23-year-old, who started her career as a Muay Thai practitioner, has become only the third Indian boxer to ensure a podium finish at the showpiece after Vijender Singh (2008) and M C Mary Kom (2012).
Hers is also the first Olympic medal in Indian boxing in nine years.
Surmeneli is also 23 and has collected two gold medals this year internationally.
The former middle-weight (75kg) boxer claims to have promised an Olympic medal to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan back in 2015 itself.
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New Delhi: India has emerged as a global leader in workforce preparedness, ranking 27th overall in the QS World Future Skills Index and securing the second position in the "Future of Work" category, behind only the United States. The report, based on an extensive evaluation of 190 countries, highlights India's advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), digital skills, and green technologies.
India's achievements are attributed to nearly a decade of efforts under its skilling mission. The country ranked 37th in "Skills Fit," 26th in "Academic Readiness," and 40th in "Economic Transformation." With a 59% active AI deployment rate, India leads globally in adopting cutting-edge technologies, aligning with its 99.1 score in the Future of Work indicator.
The World Economic Forum projects a 60% increase in AI-related skills and a 35% rise in digital skills by 2030, along with the creation of 24 million green jobs. The QS report emphasises India's potential to remain at the forefront of economic transformation by aligning its educational curricula with industry needs.
Despite global challenges such as declining venture capital (VC) funding, India remains the second-largest destination for VC investments in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the report calls for further improvements in higher education, industry-academia collaboration, and the integration of green skills to sustain long-term growth.
Matteo Quacquarelli, Vice President of Strategy and Analytics at QS, stated, "India's exceptional GDP growth, developing economy, and youthful population position it uniquely on the global stage. However, comprehensive higher education reforms are crucial to equipping the workforce with future-ready skills."
The report also notes that sectors like renewable energy and healthcare are driving growth, with an emphasis on sustainability and emerging technologies. Between 2025 and 2030, India's economy is expected to grow at an average rate of 6.5% annually, further strengthening its global competitiveness.
Experts recommend increasing the supply of tertiary education, adopting modular higher education, fostering entrepreneurship, and investing in research and development to ensure India continues to lead in the global job market.