By Trisha Ghosal
Nikhat Zareen, with her World Championship titles and Commonwealth Games gold, had become the poster girl of Indian boxing and one of India’s brightest medal hopes for Paris 2024. The writer first met her in Birmingham at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, just moments after she won gold. As Boria Majumdar interviewed her, the writer was behind the camera producing it, and even then Nikhat was crystal clear: “Desh ke liye Olympic medal jitna hai.” The Commonwealth medal was special, but her eyes were always fixed on the Olympics.
From that day in Birmingham to the build-up for Paris, Nikhat carried one dream above everything else—the Olympic medal. But Paris 2024 didn’t go her way. She lost a tough bout, and with it, her dreams came crashing down. In India, where sport beyond men’s cricket struggles for space, Olympic athletes carry immense weight of expectation. The moment they falter, the trolls start calling them overrated, useless, or a burden on taxpayers. Nikhat had to endure that storm too.
In this conversation, the writer sat down with her to revisit those moments, her heartbreak, and her determination to rise again. Here are the excerpts.
Trisha Ghosal (TG): Let’s take you back to Paris. It was a tough bout. Looking back, do you feel there’s anything you could have done differently?
Nikhat Zareen (NZ): Maybe it was not written in my destiny. My preparation was good, I was confident, but unfortunately, I got the top contender of my weight, the Chinese boxer, very early. On top of that, my bout was at 11 a.m., there was no AC or fan, it was hot, and I hadn’t slept or eaten properly. Still, I went in with full belief: Nikhat, this is your chance. I gave my best, but she was better that day. It just wasn’t my day.
TG: Nutrition is such a crucial part of boxing. How did that play into your Olympic experience?
NZ: To make weight, food intake is reduced, and two days before the bout, even water is cut. Without water, you can’t even last a day. I was hungry, dehydrated, and couldn’t sleep. That definitely impacted me. Still, I used all my energy and gave my best. When I lost, I was heartbroken. Since 2022, I had never returned without a medal. Winning an Olympic medal was my dream. Coming back empty-handed, with so many expectations, including my own, it broke me.
When I came out of the ring and saw Boria sir and you, and you said, “No matter what, you’ll always be a champion for us,” I couldn’t control myself. Tears just came. Later I felt guilty, because I didn’t want it to look like I was seeking sympathy. But those were my true emotions. Who can smile after losing?
TG: How much time did it take you to say, “Okay, next step”?
NZ: Honestly, it took time. I’d been dreaming of that medal since 2016. Years of hard work boiled down to that one day, and I couldn’t deliver. I kept it all inside, handled it myself. I went to Kashmir to clear my head, then slowly got back to training.
By January, I was back in the camp in Pune, focusing on the World Championship. My comeback is personal, I’ve returned with the same hunger and zeal. And yes, I’m already looking towards LA 2028.
TG: Why don’t you share your feelings more?
NZ: I do talk and joke, but when I’m low, I keep it to myself. These days, I feel no one really listens. If I share, often people just add their own problems. That’s why I stopped expecting.
But sometimes, in random conversations, you feel lighter. Like yesterday, I wasn’t feeling well, but when I saw your smiling face and energy, I forgot everything. That’s how I am.
TG: Last one, what’s the next pathway for Nikhat Zareen?
NZ: Right now, it’s the World Championship in September. That’s my main focus.
TG: Fair enough. And our priority will be to follow you all the way. Nikhat, always supporting you.
NZ: Thank you. By the way, what do you call me?
TG: I call her Bhabijaan! Because Salman Khan is Bhaijaan, so she’s my Bhabijaan!
NZ: (laughs) Thank you so much.
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