PACK A PUNCH
Boxer Nikhat gears up for big bouts at Olympics
New Delhi, May 8: A longcherished Olympic debut just about three months away, two-time world champion boxer Nikhat Zareen has hit “energy-saving mode” ahead of her date with destiny.
So, she is off social media, is embracing solitude, devouring sweets on her cheat days, and bingewatching Netflix magnum opus Heeramandi.
Zareen, who is a medal favourite in the 50kg category, believes activities that might sound like leisure to many, are actually legitimate ways to ensure that she has a calm frame of mind ahead of the Games beginning in Paris on July 26.
“Honestly, the feeling that I am going to be an Olympian soon hasn’t sunk in yet. As days are passing, the nervousness is increasing. But I always train my brain to focus on a good performance,” she said.
The 27-year-old from Hyderabad is a former junior world champion. She won consecutive senior world titles in 2022 and 2023.
Her 2022 season was nothing short of sensational as she remained undefeated and she would be hoping to hit similar peak in Paris.
“Every competition brings with it a degree of nervousness. You have expectations from yourself and the people around you also have expectations. It all adds up to the overall weight you feel on your mind. You cope with it by working hard, keeping your focus and having a calm mind, basically not allow yourself to be distracted. So, I am off social media, and I also try to keep my distance from people in general,” she revealed.
“Basically, I have hit energy saving mode, indulge my sweet tooth on cheat days, do grocery shopping, listen to music, it helps me stay calm. Also, I watch movies or Netflix shows. I am watching Heeramandi right now, it’s quite interesting,” she said.
A believer in destiny, Nikhat said she could have been an Olympian in Tokyo itself. She had lost a bitter selection trial to six-time world champion M. C. Mary Kom, who went on to qualify for the Games.
“Everyone knowns how badly I wanted to go to Tokyo. But it wasn’t destined. The setback made me resolute. The day I qualified for Paris, I was so happy that it is difficult for me to describe. It was like one major dream coming true,” she said.
“But then it hit me that it’s just half the job done. You have to fight your battles, you can sometime share your thoughts with with your support staff or team but end of the day, it’s you who has to fight inside the ring, you are alone there,” she said.