Need to prove even I deserve chance, says boxer Nikhat Zareen

The year 2019 could not have started better for 22-year-old woman boxer Nikhat Zareen. Having finished runner-up to Pinki Jhangra in the senior nationals at her 'home turf' Inspire Institute of Sports (IIS) in Bellary, Karnataka, Zareen pipped Jhangra to gold at the 70th International Boxing Tournament Strandja 2019 in Sofia, Bulgaria, last week.

Zareen won gold in the 51kg category, blanking Philippines' Irish Magno 5-0 for her second yellow metal at the international stage, following the gold in the same weight category at the 56th Belgrade International Boxing tournament in Serbia last April.

"The year 2019 till now has been going good. I hope it will go the same in the upcoming competitions. I hope the smile remains throughout this year," Zareen told DNA.

However, Zareen's wide smile tried to hide the disappointments of 2018 when, despite winning gold in Belgrade, she was not allowed to give trials for the Jakarta Asian Games. The boxer from Telengana said that she had to prove that she deserved to represent the country.

"This win in Sofia is very important for me. There are a lot of competitions this year including the Asian Championships in April (in Bangkok) and the World Championships in September (in Yekaterinburg, Russia) This year is also important for the 2020 Olympic qualification.

"I need to prove everyone that even I deserve in 51kg category. There were two boxers from India in my weight category in Bulgaria, Pinki and myself. Pinki lost her first bout to the Philippine girl, whom I beat in the final. I was quite happy that I have beaten very good boxers here at the Strandja Memorial.

"This competition has given me so much experience, I have learnt so many things and I will continue this work. When I get back to India, I will go through this competition once again, try to find out my mistakes, try to correct them and not repeat them," the former Women's Junior & Youth Boxing Championships winner said.

She said she was upset after being denied Asian Games participation last year. She said: "In India, there is so much competition in this weight category. Last year, there were so many major tournaments like Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships but I did not get a chance to represent in any of them even though I won gold in Belgrade.

"Because of the ranking system, I was third then, they did not give me a chance to give trials for Asian Games even after winning gold in Belgrade. I was quite upset that I did not represent the country in any major competition. When I went to my institute IIS, I thought next year (2019) I will not leave anyone. I will take revenge and prove everyone that Nikhat is far better than them."

Zareen had to fight back from a shoulder surgery in 2017. She said: "In 2017, I had a shoulder dislocation and had to undergo surgery. The whole of 2017, I was out of boxing. In 2018, I won bronze in nationals and was at the camp. Everyone thought I was still recovering and was not fit enough to represent the country at higher levels. Their focus was not on me. Slowly, I started believing in myself and told myself, 'One day, your day will come, believe in yourself and work hard. Then god will do everything'.

"In 2019, at the Nationals, I won silver to Pinki in a split decision. I went to the camp and worked hard, and luckily got a chance to represent the country in this competition. I was the second choice in my weight category here after Pinki. She was on the top and I was second. Now, I have become the champion of this competition."

Talking to psychologist attached to JSW, who support her, during her tough phase in 2017 helped her stay attached to the sport.

"No one pushed me through those tough moments. I pushed myself. My family has always been supportive. When I went back to IIS, I lost in the trials, I was so upset. I was not able to focus on boxing.

"Then, our CEO Mustafa Ghouse told me to go meet a psychologist, who gave me positive vibes, told me 'to stay positive and that good things will happen to you'. I believed in myself and prayed to god, 'God, I am working hard. It is on you that you should give me everything if I deserve'."

Recalling her win in Sofia, Zareen said they were not as easy. "The competition was very tough. The European girls, in my draw, were tough. They have strong body and are very muscular. Every fight was very tough, though I won all by unanimous decision."

Despite the win, Zareen has to go through trials for the Asian Championships as is the norm. "I am not Mary Kom to get automatic selection to represent India. Now I have got gold, they should give me top billing. I don't know how it works. I am not going to give up easily. I will fight because 2020 is my main goal."

With the healthy rivalry among her fellow pugilists, Zareen said: "We see each other as rivals in the ring only. Out of it, we talk nicely and laugh with each other. It is healthy rivalry."