PARIS: Indian Nikhat Zareen, bidding to become her nation's very first Olympic boxing gold medallist in the sport, is delighting in contending at the Paris Games after a long battle to arrive.
In 2019, Zareen was amongst a variety of appealing fighters wanting to represent India at the Tokyo Olympics, however those dreams seemed rushed when MC Mary Kom was granted an automated area for the certifying competitions.
Zareen openly required a trial battle versus the record six-times world champ and composed to the nation's then sports minister Kiren Rijiju requiring his intervention.
Kom, who has actually been the face of females's boxing in India and influenced a Bollywood biopic in 2014, won the trial by split choice and went on to contend in Tokyo.
Now it is Zareen who brings India's boxing hopes in Paris and she began well on Sunday with a consentaneous opening win over Germany's Maxi Kloetzer.
“I am completing for my nation at the Olympics,” the 28-year-old stated.
“I am actually delighted that after a very long time of wait, effort and battle, I am here at the Olympics representing my nation. Today, I won the bout. I am truly pleased to begin my Olympic journey with a win.”
Asked if she was intending to one day exceed Kom's accomplishments, the twice world champion gold medallist stated: “Mary Kom is a legend. I think nobody can break her (World Championships) record at the existing time. I see her as my good example.
“She won a bronze medal at the London Olympics. Lovlina (Borgohain) won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. My focus will be to alter the colour and make history in boxing.”
Zareen deals with a stern difficulty in the round of 16, where she deals with top-seeded Chinese fighter Wu Yu, the Asian Games champ.
Zareen is aware of the scale of her job.
“She is the front runner. It's a huge difficulty, however everybody is an obstacle for me,” she stated.
