EXCLUSIVE | From spectator to gold medalist at WBC, Nikhat reflects on her epic journey to being poster girl
Two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen speaks to WION
On Sunday (March 26) India’s star boxer Nikhat Zareena added another feather to her impressive cap after she clinched a gold medal at the 2023 World Boxing Championships held in New Delhi. In the 50 kg category, Nikhat beat two-time Asian champion Nguyen Thi Tam 5-0 to claim gold. Speaking exclusively to WION’s Digvijay Singh Deo, Nikhat looked back at her journey and how she went from a spectator to a poster girl for India in recent times.
“It was in 2018 when India was hosting the Women’s World Boxing Championship and I was not part of the Indian team, but I still came to support them as a spectator. I was in New Delhi to watch all the boxers from several countries so as to gain experience, however, I was sad for not being part of the Indian team,” Nikhat said while speaking exclusively to WION.
“I had faith and kept positive and thought, whatever happens, happens for a good reason and maybe this is not the right time for me.
“So I kept working hard and after two years now I was able to win medals for my country. Now not only am I part of Team India but also a poster girl.
“I was really happy to have won the gold medal in front of my home crowd,” a determined Nikhat said.
Speaking on her personal journey she was quick to point out how she lived her dream and kept the bookmark cheats to realize her potential.
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“I have evolved as a boxer, as a person and changed in a very different way in my personal life and professional life since I faced my injuries and the challenges in my life. This has made me both mentally and physically very strong, so this is the reason I believe in being positive and I keep visualising things in what I want to become in my life,” the gold medalist added.
“I also keep on manifesting things in life and that’s the reason why I keep the (bookmark) cheats alongside my bed. So whenever I woke up I watch those (cheats alongside my bed) and say these are the dreams I want to achieve and keep me away from negativity,” the 26-year-old Nikhat added.
Alongside Nikhat, Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) and Saweety Boora (81kg) won gold medals in respective finals while Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain beat Australia's Caitlin Anne Parker 5-2 in the 75 kg category to add another medal to her tally of two bronze medals on Sunday.
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