New Delhi: Nikhat Zareen's recent bronze medal at the Asian Championships was overshadowed by her crushing defeat to Olympic champion Wu Yu in the semi-finals. This loss, coupled with her defeat in Paris, has left Nikhat struggling to find her footing.
As she prepares for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, Nikhat will need to elevate her game to meet the mounting expectations. Her sharp counters are a force to be reckoned with, but they require great control and confidence in the ring.
Nikhat's coach, Santiago Nieva, believes she is closer than ever to solving the Wu puzzle. He praises her strong performance in the first round against Wu, where she had a clear advantage until she was caught off guard by a single punch.
Nieva attributes Nikhat's struggles to her tendency to clinch and hold, which prevents her from showcasing her best boxing. He is working with her to develop strategies to avoid these situations and maintain control throughout the bout.
Nikhat's next challenge will be to top the assessment in the national camp in May to secure a spot in the CWG and Asiad teams. With World champion Minakshi Hooda also vying for a spot, the competition is set to be intense.
