Nikhat Zareen enters pre-quarterfinals with gritty win over Kloetzer

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen powered into the women’s 50kg Olympics pre-quarterfinals with a tenacious victory over Germany’s Maxi Carina Kloetzer here on Sunday.

Trailing on three cards after the first round, the 28-year-old Indian prevailed by a 5-0



margin against the German in a rather messy round of 32 contest at the North Paris Arena here.

The unseeded Zareen, who is making her Games debut and is a strong medal contender, did not have the best of starts as the German closed the ring on her with aggressive attacking.