New Delhi, Nov 13 (NationPress) Energized by a rigorous 45-day national camp at the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports in Patiala, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen is fully prepared for the forthcoming World Boxing Cup finals, scheduled from November 14 to 21 at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida.

Nikhat is among a 20-member Indian team, consisting of 10 men and 10 women, who have trained from October 1 to November 14 at SAI NSNIS Patiala for this prestigious event.

After facing a setback in the 51 kg quarterfinals at the recent World Championships in Liverpool, where she lost 5-0 to the two-time Olympic silver medallist Buse Naz Çakıroğlu from Turkiye, Nikhat is determined to turn her season around by clinching her first international medal at the World Boxing Cup finals.

“Competing at the World Championships in Liverpool marked my return to international boxing after a year-long break. It was a valuable lesson to lose against a two-time Olympic medallist in the quarterfinals. My primary focus now is the World Boxing Cup finals, where I aim to secure a gold medal and reignite my season,” Nikhat shared with SAI Media in Patiala on Thursday.

“With India hosting the World Boxing Cup finals in Greater Noida, I am thrilled to compete here. This is my first competition in India post the 2023 World Championships, and performing in front of a home crowd is a unique experience. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to meet the expectations of Indian fans and aim to make them proud,” she added.

India has previously organized the World Championships in boxing, but this will be the inaugural hosting of the World Boxing Cup finals. This effort is part of a larger initiative to bring world-class events, such as the World Para Athletics Championships, ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, and Billie Jean King Cup Play-Offs to India, providing local athletes the invaluable chance to compete against top international opposition in familiar surroundings.

For Nikhat, who is based in Hyderabad, this represents a new beginning. “The Paris Olympics were an enriching experience for me; unfortunately, I couldn't bring a medal home. However, I believe everything happens for a reason, and I have moved on,” she reflected.

“While my main goal is the LA 2028 Olympics, I have numerous competitions ahead before reaching that point,” Nikhat stated.

Discussing the pressure of competing at home, the 29-year-old boxer emphasized that such pressure is inherent when representing one’s country. She also mentioned the requirement to adjust her weight from 51kg to 50kg in alignment with the new categories defined by the World Boxing.

“I must modify my weight class to adapt to the new categories for the next Olympic Games. Pressure is omnipresent, whether it revolves around altering training strategies, maintaining a proper diet, or ensuring adequate rest. There's also the pressure of executing the planned strategy during a bout. Once I step into the ring, all strategies fade from memory, and my sole focus becomes winning the match when the referee signals,” she explained.

When asked about the competition levels in lower weight categories versus higher classes, Nikhat noted, “The competition is indeed stiffer in lower weight classes due to the larger number of competitors compared to the quality of skill sets. Boxers in lower weight categories tend to be faster and more powerful. Conversely, while heavyweight boxers possess strength, they often lack speed. It creates a challenging dynamic; facing such opponents is quite tough.”

Though the LA 2028 Olympics are still two years away, the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist has already begun strategizing for her debut Olympic medal.