India’s Nikhat Zareen Triumphs in Paris 2024 Olympic boxing debut

Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen has kicked off her Paris 2024 Olympics campaign with a resounding victory, defeating Germany’s Maxi Carina Kloetzer by unanimous decision in the women’s 50kg round of 32 boxing match. The bout, held at the Arena Paris Nord, saw Zareen make a remarkable comeback after a challenging start, ultimately securing a 5-0 win.

Nikhat Zareen Overcomes Early Setbacks

In what began as a tough contest for Zareen, Maxi Carina Kloetzer took an early lead by aggressively targeting the Indian boxer from the outset. Despite Zareen’s counter-attacks, the judges scored the opening round 3-2 in favor of Kloetzer. This early deficit did not deter Zareen, who strategically shifted her approach in the second round.

With both boxers facing point deductions for rule violations, Zareen seized the opportunity to turn the fight in her favor. Her relentless aggression and refined technique began to outshine Kloetzer’s initial dominance. By the third round, despite both fighters showing signs of exhaustion, Zareen leveraged her extensive experience to defend against Kloetzer’s persistent advances.

A Clash with the Top Seeded Wu Yu Ahead

Zareen’s victory sets the stage for an exciting clash against Wu Yu of the People’s Republic of China in the round of 16 on Thursday. Wu Yu, the reigning world champion in the 52kg category and a gold medalist at the Asian Games last year, will pose a significant challenge. This match will be crucial for Zareen as she aims to progress further in the tournament.

Upcoming Matches for Indian Boxers

Indian boxing fans will have more to look forward to as Amit Panghal and Jaismine Lamboria are scheduled to compete on Tuesday. Panghal will face Patrick Chinyemba from Zambia in the men’s 51kg category, while Lamboria will take on Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines in the women’s 57kg category. Petecio is a silver medallist from Tokyo 2020, adding to the high stakes of Lamboria’s upcoming bout.