Indian boxer and current women's world champion Nikhat Zareen expressed her excitement about her Olympic debut and said she is ready to “throw the punches and fulfil her dream of winning a medal”.
Zareen will be part of the star-studded national boxing team at the Paris Olympics, a first for her.
Zareen wrote on X, “Bonjour, Paris! I've dreamed of this moment and now that we're here, let's make it an unforgettable moment and win everyone's hearts! I'm ready to pack a punch and make my dreams come true. Let's go! #Paris2024.”
Bonjour, Paris! We've dreamed of this moment, and now that we're here, let's make it an unforgettable moment and capture everyone's hearts! We're ready to pack a punch and make our dreams come true. Let's go! ?????????????????????#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/8jwQU9o3Bx
— Nikhat Zareen (@nikhat_zareen) July 24, 2024
Coming into this multi-sport extravaganza, Zareen has an advantage in that she has a wealth of accolades under her belt. She is the current International Boxing Association (IBA) 50kg world champion, having won the title in March last year.
She also won a gold medal in the light flyweight division at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. A year later, she won a bronze medal in the light flyweight division at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain were faced with a tough match-up when the weight class pairings for the 2024 Paris Olympics were announced.
World champion boxer Nihat has secured a match against Germany's Karina Krotzer in her opening bout in the women's 50kg division, but could next face China's Wu Yu, the defending Asian Games champion, according to Olympics.com.
Wu Yu is also the top-seeded boxer in the women's 50kg category at Paris 2024 and the 52kg world champion, while Nikhat is the current 50kg world champion.
If Nikat beats her Chinese challenger, she will face either Chutamat Raksat of Thailand or Sabina Bobokulova of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals. She lost to her Uzbek opponent in the Strandzha Memorial final in February. Sabina also beat Wu Yu in the semifinals of that tournament. Chutamat also beat Nikat in the semifinals before winning the silver medal at last year's Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Lovrína will kick off her campaign against Norway's Sunniva Hofstad in the women's 75kg class and could face China's Li Qian in the quarter-finals, who lost to her in the 75kg final at last year's Asian Games. Li is also a two-time Olympic medallist.
Jaismyne Lambolia will face Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Nesty Petecio of the Philippines in her first bout in the women's 57kg division.
If Jaismin advances to the second round, her next opponent will be the current European champion in her weight class, Amina Zidani from France, who is seeded third.
Asian Games bronze medallist Priti Pawar will box against Vietnam's Vo Thi Kim Anh in the 32nd round.
In men's boxing, Amit Panghal and Nishant Dev have been exempted from the opening bout and will begin their campaign in the last 16 in the 51kg and 71kg categories.
Amit's first match will be against 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Patrick Chinyemba of Zambia, while Nishant is scheduled to take on Ecuador's Jose Rodriguez Tenorio.
Boxing competition at Paris 2024 will begin with the qualification rounds at the Paris Nord Arena on 27 July.
Paris 2024 Olympics Boxing: Indian boxer in the draw
-Women's 50kg: Nihat Zarin vs Maxi-Karina Krotzer (Germany) – Round of 32
-Women's 54kg: Priti Pawar vs Vo Thi Kim Anh (VIE) – Round of 32
-Women's 57kg: Jaismy Lamboria vs Nesty Petecio (Philippines) – Round of 32
-Women's 75kg: Round of 16: Lovrina Borgohain vs Sunniva Hofstad (Norway) – Round of 16
-Men's 51kg: Round of 16: Amit Panghal vs Patrick Chinyemba (ZAM) – Round of 16
-Men's 71kg: Round of 16: Nishant Dev vs Jose Rodriguez Tenorio (ECU) – Round of 16.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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