Driven by a strong desire to challenge stereotypes and societal norms, India's Nikhat Zareen took up boxing at the age of 13.
The young boxer from a quiet residential area of Nizamabad in the southern Indian state of Telangana dreamed of becoming the best female boxer in India, but never expected to surpass even her lofty dreams.
Zareen's promising career began with a dominating victory at the Youth World Championships in 2011. 11 years later, in 2022, she won gold in the 52kg category at the Senior World Championships, an achievement that puts her on a par with legendary boxer Mary Kom, who won India's first women's Olympic medal in boxing at the London Games in 2012.
In a strategic move, Zareen moved up to the 50kg category in 2023 to coincide with the weight class on the athlete list for the Paris 2024 Olympics and immediately went on to win her second gold medal at the IBA World Championships.
Zareen has cemented herself as the boxer to beat in her weight class and has emerged as one of the favourites to win a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which begins on July 26.
Only two Indian women boxers have won Olympic medals so far – Kom won bronze in the flyweight division in 2012 and Lovlina Borgohain won bronze in the welterweight division at Tokyo 2020.
If Zareen wins Olympic gold, she will join the ranks of Indian boxing greats alongside six-time world champion Kom.
Ahead of the Paris Olympics, Zareen spoke to Al Jazeera about her beginnings in boxing, her Orthodox upbringing and her goals for the future.
Al Jazeera: When did you start boxing?
Nikhat Zareen: I was originally into athletics, competing in the 100m and 200m events. One day while I was training, I noticed that there were women participating in other sports besides boxing, so I asked my dad, “Why don't girls do boxing?”
He told me that girls can box, but that in our society we think girls aren't good at that kind of (combat) sport, which seemed really strange to me because I grew up playing with boys.
My dad asked me if I was really determined to take up boxing and I said yes. I wanted to prove to everyone that girls could be strong too. My dad understood and hired me as his coach in 2009.
Al Jazeera: Your father was very supportive of you. What about your mother?
Zareen: My mother was supportive of my participation in athletics, but when she found out I wanted to box professionally, she wasn't very happy. I used to spar with the boys, and when I first came home from training, I had a nosebleed and bruised eyes. My mother started crying and said, “That's why she didn't want me to start boxing.”
My mother thought boxing was physically demanding and was worried that if I broke a bone or injured my face during sparring, I would never be able to find a husband. I told her, “Don't worry. If I make a name for myself in boxing, men will line up to wait for me!”
Al Jazeera: Did you face any cultural barriers when you started boxing?
Zareen: When I started training, my schedule was so busy that I hardly had time to meet with my friends and family. However, when my parents talked to relatives and neighbors, they often asked me why they made me join such a dangerous sport as boxing. At that time, our family was not financially stable, so they warned me that if I got injured, it might cost me more. However, my father was a former sportsman, so he always supported me.
Al Jazeera: What are your expectations for the Paris Olympics?
Zareen: I have done my best in all my sports and won medals (several times). I will do the same in the Olympics and give 100% effort. People want me to win an Olympic medal and I want it too. That is my dream.
Al Jazeera: Do you feel any pressure with all the attention ahead of the Olympics?
Zareen: Before I was famous, I dreamed of the time when everyone would talk about me and recognize my efforts. That time has now come. People are counting me on as a potential Olympic medal candidate and I am happy that they have such expectations.
There is pressure, but when you feel pressure, you become more focused and don't get distracted by other things.
Al Jazeera: Do you think winning an Olympic medal will erase the comparisons with Mary Kom?
Zareen: I don't know. She is an inspiration to me, a six-time world champion. I don't think I can beat her world championship records, it's impossible to follow them nowadays. But I want to do my best at the Olympics, get to the final and fight for the silver or gold medal.
Mary Kom and Lovlina won bronze medals. I would like to change the color of the medals.
Al Jazeera: How do you feel about your development as a boxer and inspiring others?
Zareen: To be honest, I never thought I would be an inspirational person. I wasn't very good at studies and there weren't many boxing competitions in the state, so my father encouraged me to take up boxing. We believed that through the sports quota, I would be able to compete in national championships and get a government job.
I never dreamed I would get this far, but each victory made me hungry for more success. I started to love boxing more and more. After I won the gold medal at the World Championships, I received many messages from parents asking if I could coach them because they wanted to enroll their daughters in boxing. Of course, I can't coach them directly now, but after I retire, I plan to set up a training academy so that children can achieve their dreams.
Al Jazeera: Why has India historically underperformed at the Olympics?
Zareen: This is my first Olympics, so I will be the last one to give my opinion on the matter. I have never competed before, so I cannot explain why some athletes get nervous or out of breath. I will understand better when I compete. However, I have decided to stay away from social media and other distractions before the Olympics and stay focused. I have been calm and collected in all my competitions so far, and I hope to do the same in the Olympics.
