New Delhi: Indian boxing star Nikhat Zareen made a stunning comeback in the opening round of the World Boxing Championships at the Liverpool Arena on September 6, Saturday. Whereas the No.1 seeded boxer in 75kg category Lovlina Borgohain lost her opening bout against Turkey’s Busra Isildar.
Nikhat sustained an injury after his second-round exit at Paris Olympics last August and in her comeback fight, she easily passed the challenge of the USA’s Jennifer Lozaon via unanimous decision in the 51kg category.
The 29-year-old took some time to settle down as she struggled to connect her punches in the opening exchanges. But after the first round, Nikhat improved the movement to control Lozaon and picked up the right areas to land punches that tilted the fight towards her. In the pre-quarterfinal, Nikhat will go one-on-one against Japanese boxer Yuna Nishinaka.
Three other Indians – Lovlina Borgohain, Hitesh Gulia, and Sanju Khatru couldn’t pass the challenge in their first fight.
Lovlina was the top seed and favourite to win a medal in the 75kg category, but she fell flat in her opening bout as Bursra Isildar won via unanimous decision 5-0.
In Lovlina’s bout, no boxer dominated in the fight, but with some crucial punches, the Turkish boxer seized the advantage in the match. Lovlina was never in the bout in a disappointing performance.
Gulia, suffered a defeat in the 70kg category. The two-time World Cup medallist lost against the Netherlands’ Finn Robert Bos 1-4.
Gulia seemed to be in good rhythm but his struggle to land clean punches cost him the fight. After a loose first round, the 21-year-old boxer displayed more aggression in the second. In the decisive round, a no-guard movement in the final minute turned the fight around as Bos landed a sharp jab, forcing Gulia to crash to her knees.
Sanju was also knocked out after losing to Poland’s Aneta Rygielska 5-0 in the round of 32 in the 60kg category.