Nikhat Zareen, the leading Indian boxer and a two-time world champion, began her Asian Games campaign with a dominant performance in the women’s 50kg category. In a highly anticipated rematch of the World Championship final, Zareen defeated Vietnam’s Thi Tam Nguyen 5-0 on Sunday, securing her spot in the pre-quarterfinals.
Unanimous Victory
Zareen’s victory over the two-time Asian Champion Nguyen came through a unanimous decision, demonstrating her exceptional skills in the ring. Despite not receiving a first-round bye, Zareen took control of the match right from the start. She landed accurate punches in the opening two rounds, rattling her opponent and forcing the referee to give Nguyen two eight counts in the opening round.
In the second round, Nguyen attempted to counter, but Zareen responded with powerful combination punches, resulting in a third eight count for her opponent. Zareen conserved energy in the final round, showcasing her nimble footwork and effective defense.
With her sights set on qualifying for the Paris Olympics and coveted Olympic quotas at stake, Zareen emphasized her focus on the qualification process. She stated, “I am focusing on qualification first. Then step by step I’ll think of the final and gold.”
Impressive Show by Preeti
Another talented Indian boxer, Preeti, delivered a dominating performance by securing an RSC (referee stops contest) win over Jordan’s Silina Alhasanat. Preeti is now one bout away from assuring herself of a medal and an Olympic quota.
Zareen is set to face Chorong Bak of South Korea in the Round of 16, while Preeti faces a tough challenge against seasoned Kazakh boxer and three-time worlds medallist Zhaina Shekerbekova. The 19-year-old Preeti, who made the pre-quarterfinals of the World Championships earlier this year, is determined to continue her impressive journey at the Asian Games.
