In Nikhat Zareen, a brand new star emerged on the horizon whereas veteran MC Mary Kom, standing within the twilight of her profession, was left heartbroken in what was an eventful yr for Indian boxing.
As India loved good ends in the ring, they have been additionally awarded the internet hosting rights of subsequent yr’s girls’s World Championships however on the worldwide entrance, the game’s Olympic future continued to stay below scrutiny.
Nikhat’s golden run
After spending her youth within the shadows of the legendary Mary Kom, Nikhat grabbed the chance with each arms when time got here to make the flyweight division, which was dominated by the six-time champion, her personal.
Nikhat claimed a hat-trick of gold medals in 2022. She began the yr by etching her identify within the historical past books as she turned the primary Indian boxer to win a second gold medal on the prestigious Strandja Memorial match.
As soon as requesting a “truthful trial” for a shot on the Olympics, the Telangana boxer replicated her idol Mary Kom’s world championship-winning feat. It was India’s first Worlds title in 4 years and solely the second (after Mary) exterior the nation.
Her slew of wins as a teen had led individuals to hail her as a potential inheritor to Mary Kom’s throne and her gold-winning triumph, India’s first yellow metallic in 4 years on the World Championship, consolidated the view.
The 26-year-old boxer then entered the Commonwealth Video games as a powerful medal contender and she or he didn’t disappoint, clinching the 50kg title.
Every bout was a testomony to her evolution as a boxer, who’s technically sound and is aware of when to make use of her energy.
Mary’s heartbreak
As Nikhat rose from the ranks, the defining pressure in Indian boxing for properly over a decade, the timeless Mary Kom determined it was time for the following era to make its mark.
The London Olympic bronze medallist opted to skip the World Championships and the now-postponed Asian Video games to focus on the Birmingham CWG.
However destiny had different plans — merciless ones. The six-time world champion missed out on the chance to defend her CWG title after struggling a knee harm in the midst of her bout towards eventual gold medallist Nitu Ghanghas through the trials.
At 40, time will not be on her facet as in line with IBA guidelines pugilists between the ages of 19 to 40 are categorised as Elite Boxers.
The Asian Video games, now pushed to September subsequent yr, could possibly be her swansong ought to she get match and resolve to take part.
She has at all times maintained “I can play until 40.”
But when her physique doesn’t allow it, the Manipuri has nothing left to show, for she has impressed innumerable kids to take up the game. And the brand new crop of boxers comprising the likes of Nikhat, Nitu, world championship bronze medal-winning duo of Parveen Hooda and Manisha Moun and Jaismine Lamboria are attempting to comply with her lead.
Amit’s redemption and Shiva’s tryst with historical past
Not like Mary Kom, Amit Panghal had quite a bit on the road this yr. He had been a powerful medal contender on the Tokyo Olympics, having received an unprecedented world championship silver and rising to the primary rank.
However the Video games proved to be a catastrophe as he crashed out within the first spherical.
Nevertheless, the Rohtak boxer redeemed his hard-earned fame by bettering the color of his 2018 CWG Gold Coast silver. The signature salute and his little smile after successful the title at Birmingham Video games confirmed the satisfaction he felt.
Veteran Shiva Thapa additionally sparkled within the males’s circuit. Whereas he made a quiet exit on the CWG, the 29-year-old turned the first-ever male boxer within the historical past of the Asian Championships to win six medals.
The climax was bittersweet although as he was compelled to withdraw halfway by means of his remaining bout because of an harm, settling for a silver.
Lovlina’s rollercoaster
Lovlina Borgohain had saved the boxing contingent the blushes in Tokyo, successful the only medal. However shoved into the limelight and burdened with infinite felicitation features and different commitments after her bronze medal in Tokyo, the Assam boxer misplaced her focus, leading to an underwhelming present on the World Championships this yr.
On the CWG she was the protagonist of the Indian contingent’s greatest and solely controversy on the Video games as she raised a hue and cry over her private coach Sandhya Gurung’s accreditation.
In a Twitter put up, Lovlina alleged that her preparation was getting affected because of the “steady harassment” of her coaches.
After every little thing was sorted, Lovlina ended up making a shock quarterfinal exit. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old was in a position to put behind the underwhelming yr with a gold in her maiden look within the middle-weight class (75kg) on the Asian Championships. Her earlier 69kg weight class was scrapped from the Paris Olympics.
Olympics future
In a large blow to the game, boxing has been ignored of the preliminary roster checklist for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, a call made because of a lot of governance points.
Whereas the Worldwide Boxing Affiliation (IBA) claims to be doing every little thing to get the game again, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to precise considerations with the world physique’s present management below Umar Kremlev, the President from Russia.
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