Nikhat and Lovlina add more golden sheen to India’s campaign

Nikhat Zareen celebrates after winning the 50kg gold in the IBA Women’s Boxing World Championships in New Delhi on Wednesday, March 26.
| Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Lovlina Borgohain claimed the 75kg honours in the IBA Women’s Boxing World Championships in New Delhi on Wednesday, March 26.
| Photo Credit:
SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Star boxers Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain fought with every ounce of their being as the host matched its 2006 count of four gold medals and concluded its campaign in the World women’s boxing championships at the K.D. Jadhav Hall on a bright note here on Sunday.

Nikhat, who claimed her maiden World title in 52kg last year, secured her second successive gold medal in an Olympic weight, 50kg, in front of a vociferous home crowd.

An Olympic bronze medallist in 69kg, Lovlina Borgohain achieved her target of breaking her ‘bronze jinx’ and settled down in 75kg ahead of the Paris Games by picking her maiden World crown.

With Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) and Saweety Boora (81kg) delivering gold medals earlier, India dealt with only gold in the event.

The taste of gold was sweeter for Commonwealth Games champion Nikhat, who became the second Indian woman after M.C. Mary Kom to win more than one World title. Her sixth bout turned out to be the toughest as Nikhat avenged her defeat to Vietnam’s two-time Asian champion Thi Tam Ngyuen with a 5-0 verdict.

Nikhat moved in to connect body and head shots on taller southpaw Thi, who was penalised for holding, and won the first round 5-0.

Thi stepped up aggression and took the second round 3-2 as Nikhat was punished for bending too much.

With standing counts on both amidst trading of punches, Nikhat gave it her all despite receiving a cut on her upper lip, which was once affected by herpes, and opened up during the bout. After being declared the winner, she knelt down to offer a prayer.

“I wanted to put every ounce of my energy and win the final,” said Nikhat, dedicating her victory to the home crowd.

Asian champion Lovlina managed to pip two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Caitlin Parker 5-2 through bout review to pocket her maiden World title.

The lanky Lovlina replied to the Aussie’s attacks with counters and stayed 3-2 up in the first round.

After Caitlin bagged the second round, Lovlina, boxing from a long range, made good use of her left jabs to emerge triumphant in the spectacular tussle.

“I was stressed. I couldn’t succeed fully in my plan, lacking in a few things. Feels good to become a World champion,” said Lovlina.

The results (finals): 50kg: Nikhat Zareen bt Thi Tam Ngyuen (Vie) 5-0; 54kg: Hsiao-Wen Huang (Tpe) bt Yeni Arias (Col) 5-0; 60kg: Beatriz Ferreira (Bra) bt Paola Valdez (Col) 5-0; 66kg: Liu Yang (Chn) bt Janjaem Suwannapheng (Tha) 5-0; 75kg: Lovlina Borgohain bt Caitlin Parker (Aus) 5-2; +81kg: Khadija Mardi (Mar) bt Lazzat Kungiebayeva (Kaz) 4-1.