Telangana boxer Nikhat Zareen books Asian Games ticket

Hyderabad: Telangana boxer and former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen has made it to the Indian team for this year’s Asian Games, after emerging champion in the trials at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.

The State boxer also booked a berth in the Indian team for the World Championships in the 52kg category. Meanwhile, Olympic bronze-medallist Lovlina Borgohain also made it to the Indian team in the 69kg category.

In the Asian Games trial finals held on Monday, Zareen got the better of Manju Rani, a silver-medallist from the 2019 World Championships. The Asian Games are due to be held from September 10 to 25. In the world championship trials held last week, selections were also confirmed for the Asian Games in three overlapping divisions – 57kg, 60kg and 75kg.

The 25-year-old Zareen has had a great start to the year so far, winning a gold medal in the prestigious Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was her second gold (after 2019) at the European season-opener, making her the first Indian to achieve this feat.

“I am exhausted because I haven’t been able to get a break since Strandja. But I am so glad that the hard work is paying off. For now, just looking forward to a good meal after maintaining weight for so long,” Zareen said.

The Asian Games feature five women categories. In 57kg, Manisha won her trial bouts to make the cut for both the showpiece events, while the promising Jaismine (60kg) and the experienced Saweety Boora (75kg), who won a world silver medal in 2014, also ensured twin selections for themselves.

The world championships, to be held from May 6 in Istanbul, will be a comeback of sorts for Borgohain, who has not competed since her bronze-winning feat at the Tokyo Olympics.

Team for Asian Games: Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Manisha (57kg), Jaismine (60kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), Saweety Boora (75kg).

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