Hyderabad: In an exclusive conversation with ETV Bharat, rising Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen, opened up about her long-lasting stand-off with boxing legend Mary Kom. However, she downplayed her off-field battle with Mary Kom that, as of now, fixed with the 37-year-old qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
WATCH: Boxer Nikhat Zareen's revealing conversation with ETV Bharat Nikhat said that she was fighting for her right to participate in the qualifier. As Boxing Federation of India didn't reply to her letter which she wrote seeking a boxing bout with Mary in Flyweight category, she took to social media to make sports minister Kiren Rijiju aware of her plight. It was after her tweet to Rijiju, BFI organised a boxing bout for the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifier for Tokyo Games in which Mary Kom won and eventually booked her Tokyo berth in Jordan.
On being asked about Mary Kom's chance in Tokyo, Nikhat said that she is happy for her, and wants her to win a medal in the Olympics for India, adding that 'I do not have any anger over Mary Kom'.
Celebrated Eid with family after 4 years
COVID-19 steered lockdown proved as a blessing in disguise for Nikhat. With sports events came to standstill due to the health crisis, she got a much-deserved chance to spend this year's Eid with her family. She last celebrated Eid at home in 2016.
Nikhat Zareen in action against Mary Kom at India qualifier for the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifier berth for Tokyo Games. Nikhat loves Shayari
Revealing her penchant for Shayari, the 23-year-old 51kg class boxer said that she wakes up early in the morning, practice, performs Shayari and after that she offers Namaz.
From athlete to boxer
Nikhat started her career as an athlete. She used to training in 100 and 200m race. However, an incident at her Nizamabad home changed her career course. In Nikhat's words, one day she went to train with her father to a nearby ground in Nizamabad. She noticed that there was no girl protege in boxing. It was completely occupied by the boys. So, she asked her father why there was no woman boxer. Her father told her that girls can't match the power and endurance level of boys to box. But being a tough girl she decided took up the challenge to become a boxer. In 2009, he made her boxing debut.
Amid the ongoing lockdown, Nikhat is focusing more on her fitness and doing indoor practice to maintain her fitness level.
The young boxer also said that there will be hardly any tournament taking place in 2020 due to the pandemic. Considering this, she wants to shift her focus to the 2021 tournaments and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
