Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen showcased her prowess at the World Boxing Championships by securing a place in the women’s 51kg quarterfinals with a decisive 5-0 victory over Japan’s Yuma Nishinaka on Tuesday. Despite Nishinaka’s attempts to disrupt her rhythm through excessive clinching-which cost the Japanese boxer two penalty points-Nikhat dominated the match from the start.
In the first round, Nishinaka managed some resistance, but Nikhat, competing in her first international tournament of the year, soon took control and maintained her lead throughout the bout. The 29-year-old had previously made a triumphant return to international boxing by defeating USA’s Jennifer Lozano in the opening round, also with a clean 5-0 score, demonstrating that her time away had not dulled her skills.
India’s 20-member squad is facing mixed results at the inaugural event organized by the World Boxing governing body. While Nikhat shines as a top contender, three other female boxers are just one victory away from podium finishes, and five more are set to compete in their pre-quarterfinal bouts. However, the men’s side did not fare as well: Sachin (60kg) lost 1-4 to Kazakhstan’s Biibars Zhexen, Sumit (75kg) was defeated 0-5 by Bulgaria’s Rami Kiwan, and Narender (90+kg) fell 1-4 against Italy’s Diego Lenzi. In the women’s 65kg category, Neeraj Phogat put in a spirited performance but narrowly lost 2-3 to England’s Sacha Hickey.
As the tournament progresses into its crucial stages, Nikhat Zareen stands out as India’s leading performer, reinforcing her ambitions as she aims for yet another world title.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/sports/nikhat-zareen-storms-into-world-boxing-championships-quarterfinals/32231/
Category: Sports,Boxing,Nikhat Zareen,Quarterfinals,World Championship
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-09-09 20:48:00
