Two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen was one of the six boxers representing Indian at the Paris 2024.
Having qualified for her maiden Olympic Games with a bronze medal from the Asian Games, the CWG gold medalist had already developed a mentality of facing the top pugilists.
But her preparations fell short at the biggest stage even though she was well aware of the Chinese boxer Wu Yu, who defeated her 5-0, in the pre-quarterfinals.
“In my mind, there were only two boxers who I was looking at as competition at the Paris Olympics,” she writes for The Indian Express.
“One was the Chinese boxer Wu Yu and the second one was Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu. Unfortunately, the Chinese boxer was drawn in my pool and we had to face each other in an early round. That was very disappointing for me.
“Not just because I was facing her in the starting round, but also because my bout was in the morning session where I knew I wouldn’t be getting any recovery. The night before my fight, I tried to sleep but with no food and no air conditioning in Paris, I wasn’t able to get the rest I needed,” she adds.
Despite that she was strong enough to hold her emotions inside the ring but broke down when consoled by a few familiar faces at the Paris 2024 media zone.
The Nizamabad native decided to cut away from the noise upon reaching India but it was not to be.
“Within 48 hours after our bout, we were supposed to exit the Games Village and I returned to India. I had decided that after Paris, I won’t talk to anyone, I won’t meet anyone. I want some time to spend alone. But where do we get privacy in our Indian households? After coming home, everyone visited. And what happens among us Muslims? When someone travels far away or someone goes to travel or goes to do some good work, they give you flowers, they will give you sweets, they will give you money,” Zareen further writes.
“You won’t believe it but I was so shy I was hiding my face like a new bride. I just couldn’t face anyone. I couldn’t even cry once or talk to anyone once I came home. I never show my emotions in front of my family because I have a different personality in my family. They think that I am a dabang type woman. I don’t cry – I make everyone cry. That’s why I never spoke to them regarding my Olympics. Maybe they don’t know much about sports life. They don’t know how we go through it and what we face.
“After returning from Paris, I would stay in my room at home all day. Mom used to tell me to come out and watch TV but I would keep scrolling Instagram. Earlier, I would get funny reels but soon Instagram’s algorithm started showing me motivational posts instead of the usual,” she adds.
In 2025, she will have a chance to a third podium finish to her medal haul at the World Championships and participate at the World Boxing Cup Final in November at home.