Nikhat Zareen might be competing in her first ever Olympics but she has vowed to make it ‘unforgettable’. Taking to Twitter on the first day of her reaching Paris, Zareen posted an inspirational message for her social media followers. The two-time world champion will be aiming for a podium finish and will hope to continue the legacy of Mary Kom.
Not only Nikhat, India will have hopes from Lovlina Borgohain as well who won bronze in the previous edition in Tokyo.
“Bonjour Paris! I’ve dreamt of this moment. Now that I’m here, let’s make it unforgettable and win some hearts! Ready to pack a punch and fulfil my dream. Let’s go,” Nikhat Zareen said on Twitter.
India at Paris Olympics: Full Coverage
Nikhat is one of the top medal contenders for India in this edition of the games. Indian athletes will try to break the tally of 7 medals – achieved in the Tokyo Olympics. The contingent did exceedingly well in the Asian Games, bagging over 100 medals and would hope to have a record campaign in Paris as well.
WHO IS NIKHAT ZAREEN?
Born in the city of Nizamabad in Telangana (then Andra Pradesh) in 1996, Nikhat Zareen has emerged as one of the biggest hopefuls for a medal in the Paris Olympics for India. When many thought that women’s boxing in India would take some time to find their next great after legendary Mary Kom, young Nikhat Zareen broke her way through the shackles to make a name for herself.
Nikhat, who belongs to an orthodox Indian family broke the shackles due to the support of her father. Zareen has time and again spoken about how she was discouraged from taking up boxing as a child by her relatives and neighbours who told her that it was a man’s sport.
Nikhat qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 and assured herself of a medal in the ongoing Asian Games 2023 with a quarter-final win over Jordan’s Hanan Nazar. At the Asian Games 2023, held in Hangzhou, Nikhat showcased her boxing prowess in the women’s 50kg category. She faced off against Chorong Bak from the Republic of Korea in the round of 16. Displaying her superior skills and strategy, Zareen emerged victorious, winning her bout by unanimous decision. This win propelled her into the quarterfinals of the tournament.
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Source Agencies
