Don’t put on shorts they might inform Nikhat, as we speak she is a world champion: Father Jameel

Mohammad Jameel, a former footballer and cricketer, wished one among his 4 daughters to choose up a sport. The Nizamabad native picked athletics for his third daughter Nikhat Zareen. A younger Nikhat emerged state champion in each the dash occasions, however took to the boxing ring on the recommendation of an uncle. At 14, she was topped the World Youth Boxing Champion and seemed destined to be a significant pressure.

But dwelling within the shadow of the legendary Mary Kom meant a affected person look forward to her time underneath the solar. A shoulder damage didn’t assist and he or she missed a full 12 months in 2017. Five years later the ache and frustration are distant reminiscences as Nikhat grew to become the flyweight (52 kg) world champion with a unanimous determination win over Jitpong Jutamas of Thailand. Jameel seemed again with delight.

ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS ✍️ 🤩

⚔️@nikhat_zareen continues her golden streak (from Nationals 2021) & turns into the one 5️⃣th 🇮🇳girl boxer to win🥇medal at World Championships🔥

Well executed, world champion!🙇🏿‍♂️🥳@AjaySingh_SG#ibawwchs2022#IstanbulBoxing#PunchMeinHaiDum#Boxing pic.twitter.com/wjs1mSKGVX

— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) May 19, 2022

“To win a 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, where he is boy or girl, has to make their own way and Nikhat has paved her own way,” an emotional Jameel advised The Indian Express.

With her uncle Samsamuddin’s sons Etheshamuddin and Itishamuddni being boxers, a younger Nikhat didn’t need to search for inspiration exterior her household circle. Her father didn’t discourage his daughter from getting into a sport which didn’t see many feminine boxers competing in Nizamabad and even Hyderabad within the late 2000’s.

With the game requiring women to put on shorts and coaching shirts, it was not straightforward for the Jameel family. With each her dad and mom together with her mom Parveen Sultana supporting her dream, the teenager would change into the 2011 world youth champion in Turkey defeating Ulku Demir of Turkey. “I used to work as a gross sales assistant in Saudi Arabia for 15 years earlier than I made a decision to shift base to Nizamabad to assist my daughter’s research and sports activities.

While Nikhat’s two elder sisters are medical doctors, I needed to spend time on Nikhat’s coaching in addition to her youthful sister, who performs badminton. When Nikhat advised us about her willingness to change into a boxer, there was no hesitation in our minds. But generally, kinfolk or mates would inform us {that a} woman mustn’t play a sport the place she has to put on shorts. But we knew that no matter Nikhat wished, we’d assist her dream,” Jameel stated.

While the teenager would change into the world youth champion in 2011, it wasn’t until 2016 that she would burst on the senior stage along with her maiden senior nationwide title in Haridwar the place she defeated Manisha within the closing within the flyweight class.

With 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Mary Kom too competing in the identical class, it wasn’t clean crusing for Nikhat within the senior stage. A shoulder damage in 2017 meant that she was out of the nationwide camp for a 12 months. The teenager would return to the ring with a bronze within the senior nationals in 2018 other than successful the title within the Belgrade worldwide the identical 12 months.

The street to @Paris2024 begins⏱

🎯One Aim-🥇 #MissionParis2024#Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/3Iw3xdxDnw

— Nikhat Zareen (@nikhat_zareen) August 8, 2021

Medals within the 2019 Asian Championships and Thailand Open could be signal of the kids rise on the senior stage however with Mary Kom exhibiting her supremacy within the weight class, it was not a simple part for Zareen. She didn’t get a break within the Indian workforce for 2018 CWG and Asian Games however her father Jameel saved her motivated.

“When she gained the world youth title, she was 15-year-old and it could take a while for her to know that the transition to the senior stage might be robust.

The senior nationwide title in 2016 made her assume like a senior boxer earlier than the shoulder damage occurred. While she would get possibilities in worldwide tournaments, lacking out on huge tournaments did play on her thoughts. I’d inform her tales of many underprivileged boxers in Nizamabad, who would get completely satisfied after successful sub-junior or junior titles and that there’s time for the whole lot. After her, two extra muslim women joined the nationwide boxing camp and I’d inform her that how she has change into an inspiration for others,” Jameel stated.

Former SAI coach Emani Chiranjeevi, who has skilled Nikhat since 2014, too spent a number of time with the teenager put up her damage as nicely engaged on her fundamentals. “Her biggest strength has been her will power and the ability to be a perceptive boxer who understands the game well. Things like when to hit a punch, stop a punch or dodge a punch come naturally to her and her mind is always in thinking mode during the bouts as well. Her ring craft involves intellect, awareness and perception in gauging the opponent and that has helped her throughout her career,” Chiranjeevi stated.

With 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Mary Kom too competing in the identical class, it wasn’t clean crusing for Nikhat within the senior stage. (BFI)

During the final three years, Zareen had wins over the likes of former light-flyweight (51kg) world champion Ekaterina Paltceva of Russia and two-time former gentle fly-weight world champion Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan. She beat Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Busenaz Cakiroglu of Turkey within the Strandja Memorial previous to the world championships.

While the likes of Rio Olympics flyweight bronze medallist Ingrit Valencia of Columbia and Cakiroglu had been competing within the 50 kg class in Turkey, a Paris 2024 weight class, Zareen might be shifting to the upper 54kg weight division put up the CWG and Asian Games to get her shot at Olympic glory. “The principal problem in 54kg might be so as to add extra energy and velocity in her punches. Since she might be including weight, we’ve to work on her stamina, which is essential as we transfer up when it comes to weight.

Nikhat along with her father Md Jameel. (Facebook)

She has the velocity, which solely must be tuned to that weight and he or she should add power to her core earlier than specializing in the fundamentals within the new weight class to regulate,” Indian girls’s workforce nationwide coach Bhaskar Chandra Bhatt stated.

And the Jameel family might be making the preparations for Nikhat’s return. “For the last 2-3 years, she has missed her favorite biryani and nihari. Once she gets free from the camp, she can have a full for 1-2 days only before she again gets busy,” Jameel added.