Nikhat Zareen Ends Medal Drought with World Boxing Cup Final Entry
Indian boxing sensation Nikhat Zareen has stormed into the finals of the World Boxing Cup, securing her first international medal in over 21 months. The two-time World Champion navigated a challenging semi-final bout against Uzbekistan's Ganieva Glusevar in the women's 51 kg category, emerging victorious with a dominant 5-0 decision.
A Hard-Fought Victory
The arena erupted with the loudest cheers of the tournament as Nikhat entered, with school and college students flocking to witness the champion boxer in action. However, the match proved to be a scrappy affair from the start.
Nikhat began cautiously, gauging her opponent for the first 30 seconds before landing her initial punch. She connected with two more body blows before the Uzbek boxer started clinching, leading to multiple stoppages throughout the bout.
While Nikhat won the first round 4-1, the second round resembled wrestling more than boxing, with both fighters falling over three times during clinches. The Indian boxer found her rhythm in the third round, displaying cleaner shots and better movement to eventually clinch the bout unanimously.
Emotional Comeback Journey
"I am very happy, having won this bout. I was filled with nostalgia. I had become world champion in front of the home crowd, and today I won my semifinal and now I'm looking forward to the final against Chinese Taipei," said an emotional Nikhat after the match.
This victory marks Nikhat's first international medal since her silver at the Strandja Boxing tournament in February 2024. Her return to international boxing hasn't been smooth, following an early exit at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a quarter-final defeat at the World Championships earlier this year against Turkey's Buse Naz Cakiroglu.
Reflecting on her recent struggles, Nikhat maintained: "You are coming back after a one-year break and still are a part of Team India. Then you win two bouts before losing to a very good boxer, a two-time Olympic silver medallist. I would appreciate that I didn't give up."
Jaismine Lamboria Continues Dominant Run
In another impressive performance, 57 kg World Champion Jaismine Lamboria continued her superb season with a dominant 5-0 victory over former Asian youth champion Ulzhan Sarsenbek of Kazakhstan.
After a slow start, Jaismine utilized her height advantage and superior rhythm to control the bout, landing effective jabs and combinations to stamp her authority early. The victory secured her place in yet another final during what has been the best season of her career.
Indian Contingent Shines
The Indian boxing team delivered an outstanding performance with multiple athletes advancing to finals:
- Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg)
- Pawan Bartwal (55kg)
- Sachin Siwach (60kg)
- Hitesh Gulia (70kg)
Overall, 15 Indian boxers will feature in their respective final bouts on Thursday, showcasing the depth of talent in Indian boxing.
Nikhat will face Guo Yi-xuan of Chinese Taipei on Thursday, aiming to win her first major international gold medal after a wait of 32 months. The stage is set for what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the World Boxing Cup, with Indian boxers positioned to claim multiple titles.
