Last Updated:
The 29-year-old Zareen dominated the semis clash and registered a 5-0 win by unanimous decision to progress to the summit clash of the prestigious event.
Nikhat Zareen. (X)
Indian pugilist One day Zareen is one step away from the 51Kg Women’s World Cup gold as she reached the final of the event on home soil with her win over Ganieva Gulsevar of Uzbekistan in the semifinal of the event.
The 29-year-old Zareen dominated the semis clash and registered a 5-0 win by unanimous decision to progress to the summit clash of the prestigious event.
ALSO READ| This Time For Achraf! Hakimi Named African Player Of The Year 2025
“I am very happy to win today’s bout, especially in front of the home crowd. It was a memorable moment. This time I won my semi-final bout and entered the final,” she said.
“The final is tomorrow against China. I am looking forward to winning that bout and getting a gold medal for India,” the pugilist from Nizamabad continued.
“I was crowned World Champion in 2023 in front of the home crowd, so it was a nostalgic moment,” she reflected.
Competing in just her second event after a year-long break due to a shoulder injury, Nikhat appeared rusty yet determined in her stop-start semifinal against Gulsevar.
Despite the clinches, stumbles, and disrupted rhythm, the 29-year-old controlled enough of the first round to convince four judges, securing a unanimous decision victory. This win marked her first international medal since the 2023 Strandja Memorial.
Recalling her world championship win in front of home fans last year, she said, “After the Paris Olympics, my medal account has finally opened.”
She added, “From here, it’s only upwards. I’m looking forward to facing Chinese Taipei’s Guo Yi Xuan in the final and winning gold for India.”
Nikhat advanced directly to the semifinal due to a first-round bye and admitted that the delayed start threw her off: “The first bout coming at the end of the competition, that’s never happened in my career. But at least I won.”
November 20, 2025, 09:49 IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
