Nikhat Zareen – Biography, Career, Achievements, Facts and More

Nikhat Zareen

Nikhat Zareen is an accomplished Indian boxer who has made significant contributions to the sport. She competes in the flyweight category and has garnered national and international recognition for her achievements. Zareen won a gold medal at the 2011 AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships, and she has continued to excel in various competitions since then. She is known for her skill, determination, and sportsmanship, representing India on numerous prestigious platforms.

Early Life

Nikhat Zareen was born on June 14, 1996 in the Nizamabad district of Telangana. Nikhat finished her school level education at Nirmala Hrudaya High School for Girls, located in Nizamabad. She is currently studying to graduate from AV University of Hyderabad with a B.A.

Nikhat was introduced to boxing by her father Mohammed Jamil Ahmed, who also trained her for about a year in her early boxing stages.

She was passionate about boxing and she is a hard worker so her father sent her to Sports Authority of India (SAI), Vishakhapatnam in the year 2009 to be trained by IV Rao who was also awarded Dronacharya. In the year 2010, Erode Nationals announced her as the “Best Gold Boxer”.

She won the gold medal at the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Also won the gold medal at the 2011 AIBA Women’s Juniors and Juniors World Boxing Championships held in Antalya.

She won the bronze medal at the second India Open International Boxing Tournament held in Guwahati. Zareen has become the fifth Indian woman to win a gold medal at the IBA World Boxing Championships. In 2020, Zareen was awarded electric scooters and a cash prize of Rs 10,000 by Sports Minister V.

SATS

Srinivas Goud as well as the State of Telangana Sports Authority (SATS). Zareen has been working as Managing Director of Banking at Bank of India since July 2021.

However, her mother, Praveen Sultana, was against her daughter’s desire to pursue boxing.

“Coming from a Muslim family there were apprehensions then. But my father, being an athlete, encouraged me to pursue boxing, although my mother was a little worried at the time. My mother was very serious about her giving up boxing.

She was so scared when I was training with the guys back then,” she once revealed in an interview. However, Nikhat found the strength to undertake and prevail in boxing from her father, Jameel Ahmed, who was very supportive of her.

Career

Nikhat Zareen fought her way to the boxing ring despite all the social pressures that did not allow a Muslim girl to play sports. Nikhat Zareen is an inspiration to many young women who do not have the courage and confidence to fight for their dreams.

Zareen believes that boxing has given her the courage to fight against the stereotypical norms of society and break down all the barriers between her and her dreams.

Nikhat won gold in the year 2011 at the Women’s Boxing Championships and also at the World Junior Championships in the flyweight division which was held at the AIBA Women’s Junior and Junior World Championships in Turkey.

At the 2014 World Junior Boxing Championships, held in Bulgaria, Nikhat won a silver medal. In the same year, she won a gold medal at the Nations Cup international boxing tournament by defeating Russian boxer Paltceva Ekatarina in the 52 kg weight class.

In Novi Sad, Serbia, they held the championship in January 12, 2014. She also won the gold medal in 2016 at the 16th National Senior Women’s Boxing Championships held in Assam. At the Strandja Memorial Cup held in Sofia, Bulgaria in the year 2018, Nikhat, the junior world champion, won a gold medal.

Achievements

Zareen was introduced to boxing by her father, Mohammad Jameel Ahmed, and trained with him for a year. IV Rao, a Dronacharya award-winner, inducted Nikhat into the Sports Authority of India in Vishakhapatnam for training in 2009. A year later, she was declared as the “Best Gold Boxer” at the Erode Nationals in 2010.

Nikhat Zareen heralded her arrival in the boxing world in 2010, winning a gold medal at the national junior meet in Erode at the age of 14. This was just the first of many golds the young Ella would win in the years to come.

2011 World Junior and Junior Women’s Boxing Championship
She won the gold medal in the flyweight division held at the AIBA Women’s Junior and Junior World Boxing Championships in Turkey. Zareen faced Turkish boxer Ulku Demir and after three rounds she won the fight 27:16.

2014 World Junior Boxing Championship
She won a silver medal at the World Junior Boxing Championships held in Bulgaria in 2014.

International Boxing Tournament Cup of Nations 2014
She won a gold medal at the third Nations Cup International Boxing Tournament held in Novi Sad, Serbia on January 12, 2014. Zareen defeated Paltceva Ekaterina of Russia in the 51 kg weight class.

2015 XVI National Senior Women’s Boxing Championship
She won a gold medal at the 16th National Senior Women’s Boxing Championships in Assam,

Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament 2019
She won a silver medal at the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament held in Bangkok.

Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament 2019
She won a gold medal at the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament held in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament 2022

Zareen defeated three-time European Championship medalist Tetiana Kob of Ukraine 4-1 to clinch a gold medal at the 73rd Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. The women’s team was led by coach Bhaskar Bhatt. She also beat Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Buse Naz Çakıroğlu in the semifinals.

2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship
On May 19, 2022, Zareen won the gold medal in the 52 kg category at the Women’s World Championship by defeating Jitpong Jutamas of Thailand in the flyweight final in Istanbul, Turkey.

Zareen became the fifth Indian boxer to win a World Championship gold medal, joining Mary Kom, Laishram Sarita Devi, Jenny R.L. and Lekha K.C. She was only the second Indian boxer to win a World Championship gold medal in abroad (outside India). after M. C. Mary Kom, who did it four times out of her six gold medals.

Controversy

Nikhat Zareen was in the news for all the wrong reasons when she called out Mary Kom, who was furious after hearing the same thing and felt it was disrespectful.

Nikhat Zareen and Mary Kom

“Each fight is a new experience for me. Even I don’t know who this girl is. I have been fighting for many years. I clearly want to say that I don’t want all this. She has come out in the papers that she is challenging me,” said Mary Kom after beating Nikhat to enter the 51kg final.

“First you test inside the ring and then you speak (against me). She has only won one medal at the international level and such is her ego and attitude! They feel proud and satisfied. This is a very bad habit,” said Mary Kom, 36.

“How many years have I competed for the country? And how many times have I tried it? It is better to say in a soft way. They are so lucky fighting me. I, the London Olympics bronze medalist, will gain more experience.

“I was very surprised to read her comments in the newspaper. It’s so irritating. How can they say all this? Yes, everyone has the right to say and anyone can challenge. But I am also a human being. It causes a lot of disturbance. Never mind, it made me more determined to do well.”

When told that Nikhat considered her her idol, May Kom said, “Why are you challenging me then? Idol means you have to show respect, speak respectfully.”

Brand endorsements

In 2018, Zareen signed a brand endorsement deal with Adidas. Zareen is supported by the Welspun group and is included in the Sports Authority of India’s Target Olympic Podium Plan.

Awards

Nikhat was appointed official ambassador from her hometown of Nizamabad, Telangana.
‘Best Boxer’ at All India Inter-Collegiate Boxing Championship, Jalandhar, India – February 2015
JFW Award for Excellence in Sport 2019.

Net worth

Net worth of Nikhat Zareen is estimated to be in the region of approx. $100k-$2 million.

Neeraj Chopra’s and Nikhat Zareen’s

The 25-year-old boxer from the southern Indian state of Telangana has become the fifth Indian woman to win a gold medal at a world championship.
Since the moment Nikhat Zareen reached this milestone, congratulatory messages for the Indian boxer have poured in from all over the world. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has now joined the list of people congratulating Nikhat Zareen on her achievement.
Neeraj Chopra tweeted a sweet message to the Indian boxer for her victory and came up with an epic response that has now been making the rounds on the internet.
BOth Neeraj’s tweet and Nikhat’s response have since gone viral, as sports fans have shown their love for her with likes and shares.

Facts

• Nikhat was appointed as the official ambassador of her home town Nizamabad, Telangana.
• In 2010, Nikhat won the gold medal as well as the ‘Best Boxer’ award at the Junior Nationals held in Chennai.
• Nikhat idolizes Mohammed Ali and is a big fan of his daughter Laila Ali as well.
• Nikhat Zareen’s uncle Samsamuddin’s sons Etheshamuddin and
  Itishamuddni are national level boxers.
• In 2022, she participated in the 73rd Strandja Memorial Boxing
  Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, and won a gold medal by
  defeating her opponent from Ukraine ‘Tetiana Kob,’ a three-time
  European Championships medallist. During the same
  championships, in the semi-finals, Nikhat Zareen defeated Tokyo
  Olympics silver medallist Buse Naz Çakıroğlu.
• On 19 May 2022, at the Women’s World Championship held in
  Istanbul, Turkey, Nikhat Zareen won a gold medal in the 52kg
  category. She defeated her opponent Jitpong Jutamas from
  Thailand in the fly-weight category. Upon winning this event,
  Nikhat Zareen became the fifth Indian Women Boxer to win a
  gold medal at the World Championships. Mary Kom, Laishram
  Sarita Devi, Jenny R. L., and Lekha K. C are the four other Indian
  women boxers who are the winners of the gold medals at the
  World Championships.

Web

• Instagram
• Facebook
• X (Twitter)

FAQ

Who trained Nikhat in Visakhapatnam?
IV Rao inducted her into the Sports Authority of India program in Visakhapatnam, later in 2009, for training.

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