Nikhat Zareen. (PTI Photo)
Zareen, who has claimed the World Championship twice, fell in a rather unceremonious manner at the 2024 Summer Games to China’s Wu Yu in the Women’s 50 Kg category in the preliminary rounds.
Indian boxing ace Nikhat Zareen, who suffered a preliminary round exit at the Paris Olympics 2024 reflected on the painful campaign and acknowledged the fact that it wasn’t her day, but vowed to come back with more grit and determination following the shocking defeat at the quadrennia spectacle.
Zareen, who has claimed the World Championship twice, fell in a rather unceremonious manner to China’s Wu Yu in the Women’s 50 Kg category, opined that she came up against a tough pugilist, but what hurt her was the fact that she had once already got the better of the Chinese opponent in the build-up to the sporting extravaganza.
“Nobody is perfect, It was not my day. I was unseeded and had to face a very good boxer in the early rounds,” Zareen said.
“What really hurts was that boxers who I had already defeated in past competitions won medals, that was heartbreaking,” she added.
“But we have to accept the reality and keep going. I don’t want to plan anything, and want to go with the flow,” she clarified.
She also felt that not having a personal coach cost her the Olympic dream and expressed that she is on the lookout for a personal coach to refine her craft and attain international exposure moving forward.
“I didn’t have a personal coach. I want a personal coach to train with, I was training at the Inspire Institute for some while,” she stated.
“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,” the 28-year-old continued.
Zareen also shed light on the exposure and learning she could gain if she could manage to train overseas and also get acclimatised to multiple styles of boxing.
“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,” she added.
“I will also try to train with different styles of boxers, one needs to have the quality to fight different styles of boxers on any day,” she concluded.
