Who Is Nikhat Zareen? Indian Boxer Bows Out Of Paris Olympics In Round of 16

Two-time boxing World Champion Nikhat Zareen has worked tirelessly for her Olympic dream and she was just a few steps away from achieving glory. However, the 28-year-old athlete suffered an unfortunate defeat 0-5 against China's Yu Wu in the women's 50 kg category Round of 16 elimination on August 1. Zareen, who is one of India's most consistent and strongest boxers, posed a tough challenge but was ultimately overpowered by the top-seeded Chinese boxer in the first round.

Who Is Nikhat Zareen?

Nizamabad-born Nikhat Zareen's father, a cricketer, wanted one of his four children to pick up a sport and his third daughter picked boxing. When she was little, she had accompanied her father to a boxing ring and saw only male participants and wondered if the sport was meant only for men.

When her father assured her that women could box too, she made up her mind to become a champion for India. Zareen's relatives were hesitant to let her pursue the sport but her parents and uncle encouraged her to believe in herself. She trained at the Inspire Institute of Sports by coach Ronn Simms.

At a very young age, she emerged as the state champion in sprint events as well. At the young age of 14, Zareen was crowned the World Youth Boxing Champion. In 2017, she missed an entire year because of a shoulder injury but after five years, she came back with a bang. 

Her father, Mohammad Jameel once told the Indian Express, "To win gold in the world championships is something which will act as an inspiration to Muslim girls as well each girl in the country to aim to achieve bigger in life. A kid, whether he is boy or girl, has to make their own way and Nikhat has paved her own way."

Nikhat Zareen has won two gold medals at the World Championships, one in Istanbul 2022 and another in New Delhi 2023. She also won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. At the Asian Games 2023, Zareen won a bronze medal. She was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2022.