Two-time World champion Nikhat Zareen starts Women’s Elite Boxing Tournament with win
Nikhat Zareen, a two-time world champion, wasted no time proving why she’s a dominant force. She delivered a super clean 4:1 win against Uttar Pradesh’s Rashi Sharma in the 48–51kg category.
But it wasn’t all expected wins! Anjali from Haryana pulled off a big surprise at the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium, defeating the highly-regarded World Championships bronze medalist Manisha Moun in the 57-60 kg category. Talk about an upset!
Other strong performances included Nitu from Haryana, the reigning 2023 World Champion, who secured a dominant 5:0 victory over Rajani Singh (UP) in the 45–48kg. And home-state favorite Yashi Sharma from Telangana also crushed it with a 5:0 win against K. Monisha (Tamil Nadu) in the 60–65kg category.
Another standout from the Target Olympics Podium Scheme, Laxmi, really shone through, posting a powerful 5:0 win in her 51–54kg bout against Ragini (UP).
The stakes are high for these athletes! The top two boxers – the gold and silver medalists – in each of the 10 weight categories will earn a coveted spot in the elite national training camp, set to be held in Patiala. It’s an exciting path forward for these talented women!
