“Ready to pack a punch”: Nikhat Zareen on Olympics debut in Paris

Indian boxer and current women’s world champion Nikhat Zareen expressed her excitement for her Olympics debut, saying that she feels ready to “pack a punch and fulfill her dream” of a medal.

Zareen will be the part of a star-studded boxing contingent at the Paris Olympics, her first ever.

Taking to X, Zareen wrote, “Bonjour Paris! I’ve dreamt of this moment. Now that I’m here, let’s make it unforgettable and win some hearts! Ready to pack a punch and fulfill my dream. Let’s go! #Paris2024.”

Heading into the multi-sport extravaganza, Zareen has a lot of accolades that have put her in a good stead. She is the current International Boxing Association (IBA) world champion in 50 kg category, having won her title in March last year. She also secured a Commonwealth Games gold at Birmingham in 2022 in the light flyweight category. A year later, she won a bronze medal at the Asian Games Hangzhou in the lightflyweight category.

Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain secured difficult match ups in the draws announced for their respective weight categories in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Nikhat, the world champion boxer, secured a match up against Germany’s Carina Kloetzer in the opening round of the women’s 50 kg boxing but her next match could come against China’s Wu Yu, the defending Asian Games champion, as per Olympics.com.