Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen, a two-time world champion, has acknowledged her disappointing medal-less Olympic campaign, but she remains determined to bounce back stronger. Reflecting on her early exit from the 50kg women’s boxing competition in Tokyo, Zareen admitted that the loss to top seed and reigning Asian Games champion Wu Yu of China in the preliminary stage was a tough pill to swallow.
“Nobody is perfect, It was not my day. I was unseeded and had to face a very good boxer in the early rounds. What really hurts was that boxers who I had already defeated (in past competitions) they won medals, that was heartbreaking,” she shared with PTI Videos. “But we have to accept the reality and keep going. I don’t want to plan anything, and want to go with the flow. I didn’t have a personal coach,” she added.
Zareen’s focus now is on building a stronger foundation for her future. She is actively searching for a personal coach who can help her reach new heights in the sport. “I want a personal coach to train with, I was training at the Inspire Institute for some while. I am trying to find a good coach who can help me become a better boxer. Once I find someone, I will let you know,” she said.
Zareen is also considering the possibility of training abroad, believing that a change in environment can be beneficial. “I want to train abroad because change is always good. After all, internationally I get better practice opportunities as those boxers push me to come out of my comfort zone. “I will also try to train with different style of boxers, one needs to have the quality to fight different style of boxers on any day,” she added.
When asked about areas she plans to improve, Zareen highlighted her focus on strengthening her game. “I would look to improve on my strength,” she said.
With boxing’s Olympic future uncertain due to the International Boxing Association’s suspension for governance and financial mismanagement, India has opted to join World Boxing, which has the backing of the International Olympic Committee. Zareen is hopeful about the potential changes World Boxing might bring to weight categories. “….they might change weight categories. If there is 52kg category, I will be the happiest because that is my most comfortable weight,” she said.
Nikhat Zareen’s determination and commitment to her sport are clear. While her Olympic experience may have been disappointing, her drive to improve and her unwavering spirit suggest that this is not the end of her journey.
