India’s Nikhat Zareen wins gold medal in World Boxing Championship final

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Istanbul: Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen won the gold medal in the final of the flyweight (52kg) category of the Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul on Thursday. Zareen won the title by defeating Jitpong Jutamas of Thailand.

Telangana boxer Zareen dominated her rivals throughout the tournament, defeating the Thailand player in a unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 29-28 in the final. With this win, 2019 Asian Championships bronze medalist Zareen became only the fifth Indian female boxer to become a world champion.

Earlier, six-time champion MC Mary Kom (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018), Sarita Devi (2006), Jenny RL (2006) and Lekha KC have won world titles before. This is India’s gold medal in this competition in four years. The last gold medal was won by Mary Kom in 2018.

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Besides Zareen, Manisha Maun (57kg) and debutant Parveen Hooda (63kg) won bronze medals.

25-year-old Zareen dominated the jutmas with powerful punches. Jutmas got off to a good start but Zareen made a quick comeback and got the upper hand. The first round saw a tough fight but Zareen’s punches were more powerful and visible.

The Indian boxer won the first round easily but Jutamas made a strong comeback in the second round. The Thailand boxer managed to keep Zareen away from her and won the second round in a fractured decision. There was not much difference between the two boxers and in such a situation, strength and stamina proved to be important. Zareen turned the match in her favor in the final round by raining powerful punches with her right hand. Zareen could not control her emotions after the winner was announced. She jumped in joy and could not hold back her tears.

This is Zareen’s second win against Jutmas. The Indian boxer had earlier defeated Thailand’s boxer in the Thailand Open in 2019. Hyderabad’s boxer Zareen has been in excellent form this year. She became the first Indian woman boxer to win two gold medals at the prestigious Strange Memorial in February.

A 12-member contingent from India took part in the tournament. India’s medal count declined by one medal compared to the previous tournament, but four years later, an Indian boxer became the world champion. Mary Kom had won the last gold medal for India in 2018. India now has 39 medals in the Women’s World Championship, which includes 10 gold, eight silver and 21 bronze medals.

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