Unseeded Nikhat Zareen gets tough draw in Paris Olympics

NEW DELHI: India’s two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain have been handed tough draws while their male counterparts have a relatively easier passage in the boxing competition in Paris Olympics.
As was the case with her at the two previous World Championships and Hangzhou Asian Games, Nikhat – one of the country’s biggest medal hopes in Paris – was unseeded for the Games in 50kg category due to issues between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and now suspended International Boxing Association (IBA).
Following the IBA’s suspension in 2019 and the subsequent withdrawal of its recognition by the IOC, the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic boxing tournaments have been organised by boxing units set up by the IOC. Owing to this, Nikhat’s twin titles at the IBA-recognised Worlds in Istanbul (2022) and New Delhi (2023) haven’t been considered for seeding.
At the Hangzhou Asiad too, the 28-year-old boxer didn’t get the seeding which left her fighting top boxers from Bout 1 of the competition. In Paris, Nikhat has received no byes which a top boxer of her stature should have got and will have to fight four bouts against tough opponents to make the final.
Nikhat will open her campaign against Germany's Maxi Klotzer. If she is able to get past her, then she will face top seed and reigning world champion in 52kg Wu Yu. If she passes this hurdle, then she will be up against Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova or Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat in the quarters. A win here against her opponent would guarantee the Indian a medal. In the semis, she could face Mongolian Yesugen Oyuntsetseg, Colombian Ingrit Valencia or Kazakh Nazym Kyzaibay. In the final, she could potentially be up against Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Bus Naz Cakiroglu of Türkiye.
Similarly, Lovlina has been seeded eighth and is scheduled to meet her nemesis, China’s Li Qian, in the quarterfinals. Li Qian had defeated the Indian at the Hangzhou Asiad. If she is able to beat her, Lovlina will run into a much tougher opponent in Cindy Ngamba of the Refugee team.