Nikhat Zareen Seeks Redemption at World Cup Finals in India

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Indian boxing star Nikhat Zareen is gearing up for the World Cup Finals at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida. After a year-long hiatus from international competition, Nikhat is looking to regain her form and spark ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The two-time world champion, who dominated the scene in 2022 and 2023, suffered a setback at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals by Chinese world No.1 Wu Yu. Her performance at the World Championships in Liverpool this year was also underwhelming, as she lost to Olympic silver medallist Buse Naz Cakıroglu of Turkiye. However, Nikhat remains confident in her abilities and is determined to start anew. With the Asian Games next year and the Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, she wants to make a strong statement at the World Cup Finals. 'It's a great opportunity to win gold in India and begin my journey towards the LA Olympics as a champion,' she said. Nikhat's recent struggles have taught her valuable lessons, and she is using this experience to her advantage. 'I know I'm not at my peak right now, but I'm gradually regaining form at the national camp and through regular sparring,' she said. Her main targets for the next year are the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, and she is eager to perform well in these events. The schedule for the Indian boxers is packed, with several events lined up in the coming months. However, Nikhat is undaunted by the challenges ahead. 'These next few years require discipline and sacrifices, but I'm willing to put in the hard work to achieve my goals,' she said. Nikhat will compete in the 51kg category, where she has been given a quarter-final bye. She will face Uzbekistan's Gulsevar Ganieva in the semis. The World Cup Finals is a high-stakes event, with the world's top eight boxers competing for the title. Despite the tough competition, Nikhat is optimistic about her chances and is looking forward to a strong performance. The Indian women's boxing team is also looking strong, with several boxers assured of medals in their respective categories. Pooja Rani will compete in the 80kg category and has been given a direct final berth, while Minakshi Hooda and Preeti Pawar will start from the quarters. The men's team also has several boxers competing in the finals, including Sachin, Abhinash Jamwal, and Jugnu.