After defeating two-time Asian champion Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam in the 50kg category’s championship match at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen successfully defended her title.
As a result of her 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Vietnam’s Ngyuen Thi Tam in the championship bout, Indian Nikhat Zareen was named the women’s 50kg world boxing champion on Sunday. Zareen, who had won the 52 kg weight category the previous year, was in supreme form in the championship game at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
The Telangana girl effortlessly sailed to her second world title, not even a wounded lip could deter her. Throughout the battle, Nikhat outmatched her opponent and prevented Nguyen Thi Tam from regaining her composure.
The Indian won the first round with a score of 5-0 thanks to her exceptional performance, but Nguyen came back in the second round with a score of 3-2 to set up a decider. In the last round, Nikhat continued to attack with greater vigor and landed enough blows to win the fight.
The majority of people thought Nikhat Zareen’s semi-final match against Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia was her most difficult contest. Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam, though, hadn’t followed the plan when she charged the Indian boxer in the 50kg title match on Sunday.
After the stress of that important match in the semifinal, it didn’t make the final any easier, though. On her route to the final in a country where she had previously registered several victories, Nikhat also defeated Mexico’s Fatima Herrera, Mongolia’s Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg, England’s Charley Davison, and Brazilian Caroline de Almeida with similar 5-0 scores.
Lovlina secure gold at IBA
Lovlina defeated Caitlin Parker of Australia in the 75 kg middleweight final with a 5-2 split-verdict victory to claim her first-ever gold medal at the Worlds. The 26-year-old Telangana grappler competed at light flyweight in place of flyweight for this year’s competition, but she adapted to her new weight category very well and displayed her best skills throughout the event.
In the first round, the bronze medalist from the Olympics in Tokyo attempted to capitalize on her slight height advantage. She landed precise jabs with the help of her reach. Parker also used precise punches.
Yet Lovlina prevailed in the opening round, 3-2. In the second round, Lovlina changed her approach by moving closer to the action. The strategy tweak did not help her because Parker had easier access and used a barrage of attacks to win the round 4-1. The final round was evenly contested but Lovina eventually declared the victor after the fight was reviewed.
Raining gold for India
With Nikhat and Lovlina winning gold, it has been a successful weekend for India at IBA. The young Indian boxer Nitu Ghanghas made history earlier on Saturday when she became the first woman to hold the title of world champion with a stunning victory in the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship final.
Although India, the event’s hosts, did win any silver or bronze medals, their gold medal total matched their best-ever mark. India had four gold medals in the 2006 competition held at home, which was also the nation’s best-ever showing with an eight-medal haul that included a silver.