Nikhat Zareen storms into quarter-finals of IBA Women's World Boxing Championships

India’s Nikhat Zareen stormed into the quarter-finals but it was curtains for Shiksha as she lost a close bout at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul yesterday. Nikhat was the first Indian in action yesterday and she completely dominated from start to finish to outpunch Altantsetseg in a unanimous 5-0 verdict in her round-of-16 bout. 

Nikhat will next face England’s Charley Davison, who defeated Hainite Kayla of Togo in the Round of 16. Earlier, four Indian boxers have already qualified for the quarter-finals. 2022 Strandja Memorial Gold medallist Nitu will take on Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan in the last-8



match, while Manisha will face a tough challenge from Youth World bronze medallist Namuun Monkhor of Mongolia.

Tokyo Olympian and two-time Asian Champion Pooja Rani will fight against Australia’s Jessica Bagley in her last-eight bout, while Nandini will begin her campaign against Morocco’s Khadija Mardi in the quarter-finals. 

All the quarter-finals will take place today. Indian boxers have won 36 medals, including nine gold, eight silver, and 19 bronze, in the 11 previous editions of the tournament, which is the third-highest after Russia with 60 and China with 50.