Nikhat Zareen, born on 14 June 1996, is a young Indian boxer who has made her mark in the boxing world. With multiple national and international accolades under her belt, she is a force to be reckoned with. In this article, we will take a closer look at her life, career, and achievements, and answer some frequently asked questions about this rising star.
The Early Life of Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen was born to Mohammad Jameel Ahmed and Parveen Sultana in Nizamabad city of Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana). She completed her primary education from the Nirmala Hrudaya Girls High School in Nizamabad. Zareen was introduced to boxing by her father, who trained her for a year. Later, she joined the Sports Authority of India in Vishakhapatnam to train under Dronacharya awardee IV Rao, where she won her first national title as the ‘golden best boxer’ at the Erode Nationals in 2010.
Career Highlights of Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen’s career took off when she won a gold medal in the flyweight division at the 2011 AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships held in Antalya. She went on to win a silver medal at the 2014 Youth World Boxing Championships held in Bulgaria and a gold medal at the 16th Senior Woman National Boxing Championship in Assam in 2015.
In 2019, she won a gold medal at the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament held in Sofia, Bulgaria, and a silver medal at the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament held in Bangkok. In 2022, she added another gold medal to her tally at the 73rd Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament by defeating Ukraine’s Tetiana Kob and went on to win a gold medal at the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, defeating Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas in the fly-weight final.
Nikhat Zareen continued her winning streak by clinching a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she defeated Carly McNaul of Northern Ireland in the light flyweight category. She also won a gold medal at the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships held in New Delhi, defeating Vietnam’s Nguyễn Thị Tâm in the 50kg summit clash.
Endorsements and Awards
Nikhat Zareen is supported by the Welspun group and is included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme of Sports Authority of India. She signed a brand endorsement deal with Adidas in 2018. In 2019, she received the JFW award for Excellence in Sports, and in 2022, she was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Nikhat Zareen known for?
A. Nikhat Zareen is known for her achievements in boxing, both nationally and internationally.
Q. What are some of Nikhat Zareen’s notable achievements?
A. Nikhat Zareen has won gold medals at the 2011 AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships, the 73rd Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament, the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, and the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. She has also won a silver medal at the 2014 Youth World Boxing Championships and a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.