This victory and his victory at the World Championships established Nikhat as the best pound-for-pound boxer in his weight category. Winning the Commonwealth Games gold will further enhance the prestige of Nikhat, who had struggled for years to make a mark in the weight classes dominated by the great Mary Kom. After coming out of Mary Kom’s shadow by winning a gold medal in Istanbul, Nikhat now has another chance to establish his dominance as Mary Kom was ruled out of the trials due to injury.
Working against Mary Kom with age, Nikhat now has a chance to win gold in Birmingham 2022 and establish himself as India’s best boxer in the 50-52kg weight category. He had to lose a few kilograms for the Commonwealth Games and gain some weight again for the Asian Games in 2023 and the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Winning gold in Birmingham 2022 will certainly boost their morale ahead of tough challenges at next year’s Asian Games and then the Olympics in the French capital. Nikhat Zareen’s road ahead begins in the women’s 50kg category at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday. The boxer from Osmanabad in Telangana needs to establish her authority on the field to grab her chances with both hands and emulate Mary Kom.
Source: navbharattimes.indiatimes.com
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