World Boxing Championships: India’s Nikhat Zareen and Nitu Ghanghas storm into finals

Two of the four Indian boxers who were in the last-four rounds at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in 2023 in New Delhi reached the final in emphatic style on Thursday, March 23.

Defending champion Nikhat Zareen made it to her second successive final at the world meet while 22-year-old boxer Nitu Ghanghas made her maiden final of the World Championships, bringing delight to the home crowd in the capital city.

Nikhat Zareen reached the women’s light flyweight category (48kg) beating Rio Olympics bronze medalist Ingrit Valencia of Colombia by a unanimous decision in the semi-final. Nikhat was dominant from start to finish as she was at her calculative best, outpunching Valencia in front of her home crowd.

Nikhat, who won the Commonwealth Games gold medal to add to her Strandja Boxing Memorial gold medal in 2022, is making all the right noise in the year before the Paris Olympics.

Nikhat, who has emerged out of the shadows of Mary Kom, was made to work hard by two-time world championships bronze medalist Chuthamat Raksat of Thailand. After dominating the first two rounds, NIkhat slowed down in the third round and the bout was sent for review.

After a few nervous moments of waiting, Nikhat was announced as the winner of her quarter-final bout.

Unlike Wednesday, Nikhat had an easy outing against Ingrit on Thursday as she asserted her dominance over the field. The unseeded Indian boxer had spent a lot of energy against top seed and African champion Boualam Boumaysa of Alegeria in her second round. Nikhat was one of the three boxers who was not handed a first-round bye but the 2022 champion kept her composure to reach the final once again.

On the other hand, Nitu Ghanghas defeated former silver medalist Alua Balkibekova via split decision in her 48kg semi-final bout to reach the final and give herself a chance to win the Gold medal. Nitu, who also won the CWG Gold in Birmingham, had finished 5th in the previous edition of the world meet in Istanbul.

Notably, Nitu Ghanghas stormed back in the second round after conceding the first round 2-3 to the top seed Alua of Kazakhstan. The young boxer maintained her composure to outpunch Alua in the last two rounds and seal the victory.

Nitu’s semi-final bout needed review as it was a closely-fought affair, especially in the third and final round.