Nikhat Zareen (born 14 June 1996) is an Indian boxer and a two-time world champion. She won a gold medal at the 2011 AIBA Women's Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships held in Antalya.[1] Zareen won gold medals at the 2022 Istanbul, and 2023 New Delhi IBA Women's World Boxing Championships.[2][3] She also won gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.[4][5] She won the bronze medal in the Light flyweight event in the 2022 Asian Games.[6]

Nikhat Zareen
Zareen in 2022
Personal information
NicknameNikki[citation needed]
NationalityIndian
Born (1996-06-14) 14 June 1996 (age 28)
Nizamabad, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana), India
Weight51 kg (112 lb)
Sport
SportBoxing
Weight classFlyweight / Light flyweight
Medal record
Representing  India
Women's amateur boxing
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
World Championships 2 0 0
Asian Games 0 0 1
Commonwealth Games 1 0 0
Asian Championships 0 0 1
World Junior and Youth Championships 1 1 0
Total 4 1 2
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Istanbul Flyweight
Gold medal – first place 2023 New Delhi Light flyweight
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Hangzhou Light flyweight
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Birmingham Light flyweight
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Bangkok Flyweight

Personal life

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Nikhat Zareen was born on 14 June 1996 to Mohammad Jameel Ahmed and Parveen Sultana in Nizamabad city of Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana).[7][8][9] She completed her primary education from the Nirmala Hrudaya Girls High School in Nizamabad.[10] She is pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) at AV College in Hyderabad, Telangana.[11]

Zareen has been appointed as the staff officer in the Bank of India, zonal office at AC Guards, Hyderabad since June 2021.[12]

Career

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Zareen was introduced to boxing by her father, Mohammad Jameel Ahmed, and she trained under him for a year.[10] Nikhat was inducted into the Sports Authority of India in Vishakhapatnam to train under Dronacharya awardee, IV Rao in 2009. A year later, she was being declared as the 'golden best boxer' at the Erode Nationals in 2010.[10]

2011 Women's Junior and Youth World Boxing Championships

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Won gold medal in flyweight division held at the AIBA Women's Junior and Youth World Boxing Championship in Turkey.[13] Zareen was up against Turkish boxer Ulku Demir and after three rounds won the bout 27:16.[14][15]

2014 Youth World Boxing Championships

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She won a silver medal in the Youth World Boxing Championship held in Bulgaria in 2014.[16]

2014 Nations Cup International Boxing Tournament

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She won a gold medal at the third Nations Cup International Boxing Tournament held in Novi Sad, Serbia on 12 January 2014. Zareen defeated Paltceva Ekaterina of Russia in the 51 kg weight category.

2015 16th Senior Woman National Boxing Championship

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She won a gold medal at 16th Senior Woman National Boxing Championship at Assam,[17]

2019 Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament

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She won a silver medal at Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament held in Bangkok.[18]

2019 Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament

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She won a gold medal at Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament held in Sofia, Bulgaria.[19]

2022 Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament

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Zareen defeated Ukraine's Tetiana Kob, a three-time European Championships medallist 4-1 to clinch a gold medal at the 73rd Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.[20] The women's team was led by coach Bhaskar Bhatt.[21] She also beat Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Buse Naz Çakıroğlu in the semi-finals.[22]

2022 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships

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On 19 May 2022, Zareen won the gold medal in the 52 kg category at the Women's World Championship defeating Thailand's Jitpong Jutamas in the fly-weight final in Istanbul, Turkey. Zareen became the fifth Indian women's boxer to win a gold medal at the World Championships, joining Mary Kom, Laishram Sarita Devi, Jenny R. L., and Lekha K. C.[3] She was only the second Indian boxer to win a World Championships Gold Medal abroad (outside India) after M.C. Mary Kom, who did it four times out of her six Gold Medals.

2022 Commonwealth Games

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Zareen won the third gold medal for India in the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham after defeating Carly McNaul of Northern Ireland by 5-0 on 7 August 2022 in the 48–50 kg category (light flyweight category).[4][5]

2023 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships

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Nikhat won 2nd world championship gold medal in 2023 New Delhi IBA Women's world boxing championships after defeating Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Tam by 5-0 unanimous decision in the 48-50 kg category on 26 March 2023.[2]

2024 Paris Olympics

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Zareen who entered the Olympics unseeded, defeated Maxi Carina Kloetzer 5-0 in the women’s 50 kg boxing round of 32 and proceeded to the pre-quarterfinal.[23] She lost the round of 16 bout to Chinese world number 1 Wu Yu in a unanimous defeat of 5-0.[24]

Achievements

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International Titles
Year Place Weight Competition Location
2011   48 AIBA Women's Junior and Youth World Boxing Championship Turkey
2014   45–48 Youth World Boxing Championship Bulgaria
2014   51 Nations Cup International Boxing Tournament Novi Sad, Serbia
2018   51 56th Belgrade International Championship Belgrade, Serbia
2019   51 Asian Championships Bangkok, Thailand
2019   51 Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament Bangkok, Thailand
2019   51 Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament Sofia, Bulgaria
2021   51 Istanbul Bosphorus Boxing Tournament Istanbul, Turkey
2022   51 Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament Sofia, Bulgaria
2022   52 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships Istanbul, Turkey
2022   50 XXII Commonwealth Games Birmingham, England
2023   50 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships New Delhi, India

Brand endorsements

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In 2018, Zareen signed a brand endorsement deal with Adidas.[25] Zareen is supported by the Welspun group and is included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme of Sports Authority of India.[26][27]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "4 Indians win gold in AIBA Women's Youth & Junior World Championship". The Times of India. 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Nikhat Zareen beats Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Tam to bag second World Championships gold". 26 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b "India's Nikhat Zareen Wins Gold At Women's World Boxing Championships". NDTV. 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Nikhat Zareen wins maiden CWG gold to extend India's boxing juggernaut at Commonwealth Games 2022". Hindustan Times. 7 August 2022. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b Maniyar, Aachal (7 August 2022). "Commonwealth Games: Nikhat Zareen clinches gold, bags 3rd medal in boxing for India". India TV. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  6. ^ Peesara, Anuraag (1 October 2023). "Asian Games 2023 boxing: Nikhat Zareen wins bronze medal, Parveen Hooda secures Paris Olympics quota". Olympics.com. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Indian Boxing Federation Boxer Details". www.indiaboxing.in. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  8. ^ "India's Nikhat Zareen wins silver at Youth World Boxing". Firstpost. 29 September 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Nikhat Zareen wins silver". The Hindu. 30 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  10. ^ a b c "Nikhat Zareen wins over family resistance". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Nikhat Zareen packs a punch". The Hindu. 26 February 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Boxer Nikhat Zareen appointed as staff officer in Bank of India". The Times of India. 19 June 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  13. ^ PTI (30 April 2011). "4 Indians win gold in AIBA Women's Youth & Junior World Championship". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  14. ^ "4 Indians win gold in AIBA Women's Youth & Junior World Championship". timesofindia. 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  15. ^ "AIBA Women's Youth and Junior World Championship: Indian Women Continue Their Dream Run". sportskeeda. 28 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  16. ^ Subrahmanyam, V. V. (4 October 2013). "Boxer awaits reward amid political turmoil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  17. ^ "Boxer Nikhat Zareen won Gold Medal 16th Senior Woman National Boxing Championship at Assam". INDToday. 1 November 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  18. ^ Yellapantula, Suhas (28 July 2019). "This silver medal at Thailand Open is a huge confidence boost for me ahead of the World Championships: Nikhat Zareen". the Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  19. ^ "Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament 2019: Nikhat Zareen, Meena Kumari Devi strike gold; Manju Rani settles for silver". Firstpost. 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  20. ^ PTI (17 February 2022). "Strandja Memorial Boxing: Nikhat Zareen, Nitu Strike Gold For India". NDTV. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Strandja Memorial Boxing: Nikhat Zareen, Nitu Strike Gold For India". NDTV Sports. 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  22. ^ ANI (27 February 2022). "Nikhat Zareen, Nitu clinch gold medals as India finish with 3 medals at Strandja Boxing Tournament". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Who is Nikhat Zareen? Spotlight on the women's 50kg Indian boxing pre-quarterfinalist at Paris Olympics". The Times of India. 28 July 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  24. ^ Vasavda, Nikhil (1 August 2024). "'Nikhat Zareen is a fighter, be it in life or the ring' Indian boxer vows to bounce back after loss to Wu Yu". The Indian Express. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  25. ^ Tewari, Saumya (18 September 2018). "Adidas signs brand endorsement deal with Hima Das". Mint. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  26. ^ "I've decided to look ahead: Boxer Nikhat Zareen starts fresh for upcoming Asian Games, CWG". New Indian Express. 22 August 2020. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  27. ^ Subrahmanyam, V. V. (17 September 2020). "Boxer Nikhat Zareen pleased to be back in TOPS". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  28. ^ "Nikhat Zareen is brand ambassador of Nizamabad". The Hindu. 13 December 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  29. ^ "The Young Fighter; Nikhat Zareen". JFW Just for women. 24 September 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  30. ^ ABP Live (30 November 2022). "National Sports Awards 2022: Sharath Kamal, Lakshya Sen, Nikhat Zareen & Others Receive Awards". Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
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