custom-ads

Dream 90% fulfilled so far, says father as Nikhat Zareen secures Paris 2024 ticket — her debut Olympics

The Telangana boxer is assured of her first Asian Games medal, after advancing to the semis of the 50-kg category.

Ajay Tomar

Published Sep 30, 2023 | 7:17 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 30, 2023 | 7:17 AM

Telangana Dream 90% fulfilled so far, says father as Nikhat Zareen secures ticket for Paris 2024, her debut Olympics

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics official logo (left), and Nikhat Zareen. (Commons)

Round one. Two minutes and seven seconds on the clock. That was enough for the referee to declare India’s star pugilist Nikhat Zareen a winner in the quarterfinals at the ongoing 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou in China.

With this, the two-time world champion boxer has not only assured her first medal in the Asiad but also became the first Indian boxer to secure a berth for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

The 27-year-old defeated Jordan’s Hanan Nassar, the Arab Games gold medallist, in the women’s 50-kg category bout at the Hangzhou Gymnasium in the Gongshu district.

Zareen — only the fifth Indian woman boxer to win a medal at the World Championships, after Mary Kom, Laishram Sarita Devi, Jenny Lalremliani, and Lekha KC — posted a message on X after the match, in which she expressed elation over qualifying for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

She also pointed out that her “job at Asian games is not done yet”, and indicated that she would go all the way for the gold medal.

Back home in Telangana’s Nizamabad district, her parents were glued to the television.

“We were hoping she would win this match and confirm herself a medal and Olympic qualification by entering the semi-final,” Zareen’s father Mohammed Jameel Ahmed told South First after the match.

“Now she will play the girl from Thailand. She defeated her in the World Championship this year,” he noted, adding that Zareen was eyeing nothing other than an Asian Games gold medal — which would be her first.

Also read: Meet the Andhra karate champ targeting India’s first karate medal

Consistent performance

Zareen, known for her speed, agility, and punching duress, had a dominating start. She was constantly hurling punches at Nassar — with some of the blows straight at her face — in the first few seconds of the first round.

Just after a minute, a resolute Zareen landed a heavy strike on Nassar’s face, after which the referee halted the contest and did an eight-second standing count on the Jordanian.

As the bout resumed, the reigning Commonwealth champion landed multiple blows, including combination punches, on Nassar, who was struggling with her opponent’s pace.

The referee gave two more standing counts to the Jordanian pugilist before deciding to resort to the RSC (referee stopped the contest).

Incidentally, Nassar had won her pre-quarterfinal match through the RSC.

Zareen will now face Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat on 1 October, who stormed past Tajikistan’s R Hanqnazarova in the round-of-eight.

Also read: From ticket-checker to Asian record, meet runner Rajesh Ramesh

‘Dream 90% fulfilled’

Jameel Ahmed stressed that Zareen’s dream had been “fulfilled only 90 percent so far”, as her main aim was winning an Olympic medal.

“A dream is thereafter reaching a certain level, and so far for us it has been fulfilled 90 percent. The preparations will be even more for the Olympics, and I am sure she and her coaches will be observing and analysing each and every player, and adjusting the game plan accordingly,” he explained.

He urged parents to let their children take up sports alongside their studies.

“I urge all the people, especially parents to let their children make careers in sports with the aim to represent the country. They will get honour and job also as they progress,” Ahmed said.

While noting that boxing was catching on in Nizamabad and Hyderabad, with several girls taking up the sport, he added: “There should be no difference between boys and girls, so it’s my request to parents to put girls equally in sports.”

Follow us