Boxing Mardo Ka Game: Punching boundaries and misconceptions, Nikhat Zareen gears as much as make father proud

Nikhat Zareen gained the World Youth Championships gold medal when she was a 15-year-old, sparking hopes of one other boxing sensation from India. However, the Nizamabad boxer hasn’t had it simple in what has been a topsy-turvy profession that’s slowly however certainly beginning to take flight in the precise route.

Competing within the flyweight class, the burden division that Mary Kom dominated during the last decade, meant Nikhat Zareen needed to battle exhausting to emerge out of the legendary boxer’s shadows. In 2019, the 25-year-old gained a gold medal on the prestigious Standja Boxing Memorial Tournament and gained a silver medal on the Asian Championships in Bangkok.

However, Nikhat missed the bus to Tokyo Olympics after she misplaced a controversial and much-publicised trial bout to Mary Kom for the 51kg berth. Nikhat could have misplaced that decisive path in 2019 however she didn’t throw within the towel.

Cut to March 22, Nikhat is on her strategy to turning into the poster lady of the ladies’s flyweight class within the nation. With Mary taking a backset after the Tokyo Olympics, the Telangana boxer will characterize India on the world championships and the Asian Games.

She grew to become the primary Indian boxer to win 2 gold medals at Strandja in Bulgaria the place she defeated Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Busenaz Cakiroglu en path to the highest step of the rostrum.

Before she might have fun the historic victory, Nikhat needed to face trials once more, this time for slots in two of the largest boxing occasions of 2022, the world championships in May and the Asian Games in September. As anticipated, there have been no slip-ups this time round.

Setting new targets after the Tokyo disappointment was not simple. The lockdowns and restrictions through the pandemic might have crushed her already dampened spirits however Nikhat solely pushed more durable than ever. Making do with the minimal, the spirited boxer started her comeback path with renewed hopes and aspirations.

Nikhat has had the zeal to show naysayers unsuitable proper from her childhood. When individuals in her city instructed her father that boxing will not be meant for ladies, Nikhat needed to show them unsuitable. In reality, she took up boxing to show a degree.

‘BOXING MARDO KA GAME’

“When I started boxing, many people used to criticise me, saying ‘ladki hai aap. Boxing mardo ka game hai. Kahan boxing mein ja rahe hai? Mar lagega toh phir, karab hoga, phir shaadi kaun karega?’. But I believed in myself. I think this is why I want to tell each and every woman to keep believing in herself,” Nikhat instructed indiatoday.in.

“Before boxing, I was into athletics. I never dreamt of becoming a boxer. I was into athletics, 100m, 200m were my events. I used to go to the events along with my dad. My dad used to watch my timings.

“Once I went to a stadium, I noticed Urban Games have been occurring. I noticed women in each sport besides boxing. Then I used to be curious to know why there have been no women in boxing.

“I asked my father ‘papa, sab game mein ladkiyon hai but boxing mein kyu nahi hai? Bas mardo ka game hai kya?’.

“He mentioned ‘no beta, women may field, however individuals suppose women haven’t got guts to field’.

“I belong to a place where very few people allow their daughters to achieve their dreams in sport. I took those words as a challenge, then I decided to take up boxing.

“I instructed my father ‘papa, mein boxing karoongi. I needed to indicate individuals round me that boxing ladkiyan bhi kar sakthi hai’.

Having signed with fashionable sportswear model Adidas for his or her ‘Impossible is Nothing marketing campaign’, Nikhat mentioned she believes the favored mantra is an ideal match for her journey in sport. The partnership focuses on empowering ladies to grasp their desires, cheering for girls to interrupt boundaries and Nikhat’s addition will solely bolster the marketing campaign.

NIKHAT’S PILLAR OF STRENGTH

Nikhat Zareen mentioned she is fortunate to have had unfliched help from her father (Photo Courtesy: zareennikhat/Instagram)

Shedding mild on the unflinching backing from her father, Mohammad Jameel Ahmed, Nikhat mentioned she desires to do him proud by profitable an Olympic medal for India.

“Every girl deserves a father like mine,” she mentioned.

“At the start, it was challenging for me and my father because people around us were saying all sorts of stuff. But my father never listened to all that. He supported me in my journey. That’s why I have always been saying that I am lucky to have such a father.

“One day, I’ll make him proud by profitable an Olympic medal.”

“PARIS ALWAYS ON MY MIND’

Nikhat Zareen has her eyes set on Paris Olympics (Photo Courtesy: zareennikhat/Instagram)

That day won’t be far-off as Nikhat is a robust contender to characterize India within the flyweight class on the 2024 Paris Games. While Nikhat has by no means taken her thoughts off her final objective, the matured pugilist believes it is essential to have a look at the ladder as an array of small steps.

“Paris is always on my mind but it’s not my focus. Rather than looking at it as an entire staircase, I want to see it one step at a time,” she mentioned.

“There is time for Paris. If I win medals at world champions, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games this year, that will definitely boost my confidence. I will get the belief that I can do well in Paris.

“I’m presently at 23 however I wish to break into the highest 10 on the earth rankings. I wish to make use of every alternative that comes my strategy to obtain my objective. I wish to give my the whole lot in every competitors, step-by-step.”

‘NOT AFRAID OF EXPECTATIONS’

All eyes will be on Nikhat as she looks to carry forward the legacy of Mary Kom in the flyweight category and make her own mark. Having come under the radar, there will be the burden of expectations but Nikhat said she is geared up to make the best of use of the hard-earned opportunities.

“Mary Kom has dominated the flyweight class for therefore lengthy. Now I get the chance, of couse, I wish to win medals and I wish to make my mark.

“I always believed that whatever happens, happens for good. I learned one thing — never stop working hard, if you are to put in the hard yards, the almighty will take care of the rest.

“I attempt to have a look at issues with a constructive lens. If persons are anticipating me to do properly, that may solely enhance my confidence. I did not get all the eye up to now however now I m getting it. Why should not i take it in a constructive means and hold working exhausting?”