Struggling with the difficult circumstances of her career, newly crowned World Champion Nikhat Zareen said she has adopted a fighting approach where “whatever happens I have to fight”. and do my best.” Continuing his stellar streak, Zareen beat Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas by a unanimous result 5-0 to claim the flyweight (52kg) gold medal in Istanbul on Thursday.
“These two years I’ve just been focused on my game and whatever weakness in my game I’m trying to improve,” Zareen told reporters after his game.
“I studied my strengths and what I was lacking in my game. I studied the areas where I needed to work and make myself strong.
“All the obstacles I’ve faced in my career have made me strong. I’ve become mentally strong after all of that and my thought process is whatever Whatever happens, I have to fight and do my best,” she added.
Zareen’s gold medal comes two years after she wrote to then-sports minister Kiren Rijiju asking for a “fair trial” for the Olympic Qualifiers.
Zareen was mercilessly trolled on social media for this while the legendary Mary Kom causally asked “Who is Nikhat Zareen?” Zareen ultimately lost to Mary Kom in the trials, missing out on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.
The 2011 junior world champion also had to overcome a career-threatening shoulder injury that kept her out of the ring for a year and caused her to miss all major ticketing events like the Games. Commonwealth sport, Asiad and World Championship 2018.
“In 2017 I dislocated my shoulder, had to have surgery and then I didn’t participate in any competitions for a year. I came back in 2018 but I wasn’t at my peak yet so I missed the competitions. major tournament CWG. , Asiad and world championship.
“But I didn’t give up and after coming back in 2019 I still haven’t looked back. I see all competitions as an opportunity and I believe in myself. Because of that, I am where I am today.” Zareen will now prepare for the Commonwealth Games test where she will have to lose weight and get down to 50kgs.
“In CWG there’s a 50kg class, I’ll prepare for that now.” The 25-year-old Telangana jumper has started preparing for the Paris Olympics but is unsure in which weight class he will compete.
She will have to gain 54kg or lose 50kg.
Talking about the difficulties of changing weight classes, she said it would be easier to lose weight.
“It’s very difficult to change weight class whether you drop down to a weight class or move up a weight class.
“It’s harder when one goes from lower weights to higher weights because you’re at a disadvantage with other boxers who are a bit heavier because they get to that weight by reducing body weight. So one has to Face off against stronger fighters.
“I guess if I compete in the 50kg class, it won’t make much difference. Normally my weight is still 51,51.5 kg so my body will do well in the 50kg class. So for a while, I will continue in the 50kg category.” The 2019 Asian Championship bronze medalist has had a busy 2022 and her goal is injury-free.
“The challenge is to keep my body at its peak, after Strandja I had to try out at the World Championships and the Asian Games.
“It’s not easy being there you get to play with experienced fighters in tough fights. But I kept my body calm and calm and I won both the challenge and the challenge. Start preparing for the world championship.
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“Now I will prepare for the CWG. The main focus will be on keeping the body injury-free.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from the syndication feed.)
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