Paris Olympics 2024 Boxing: India's Nikhat Zareen Moves Into Women's 50kg Pre-Quarterfinal

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Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen moved into the women's 50kg pre-quarterfinals in Paris Olympics 2024 following a hard-fought win over Germany's Maxi Kloetzer in the round of 32 on Sunday (July 28).

In her first-ever Olympics appearance and bout in the global event, the 28-year-old India boxer registered a 5-0 unanimous decision win over the German at the North Paris arena in Paris.

After trailing on the judges scorecard in the opening round, Zareen produced her best in the second and third rounds to turn the contest in her favour. Both the boxers were deducted a point in the second round.

Nikhat, who is one of India's medal hopes, faces a tougher challenge in the next round as she takes on top-seeded Asian Games and reigning flyweight world champion Wu Yu of China on Thursday (August 1).

Wu received a bye to the round of 16 as the top seeded boxer and comes into the bout as one of the favourites. So, a victory over the Chinese, will hand Nikhat a good chance of getting closer to winning a medal.

Earlier on Saturday (July 27), Nikhat's compatriot, Preeti Pawar advanced to the Round of 16 after beating Vietnam's Vo Thi Kim Anh by a unanimous decision in the women's 54 kg boxing round of 32 match at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

Kim Anh was on top after the first round, where the judges gave her a 3-2 split lead. However, the Indian boxer made a terrific comeback in the next two rounds to seal a victory in her maiden Olympics game.

Pawar, who revealed that she fought off sickness to compete in round of 32, will face Colombia's Yeni Arias in the next round of the event at the prestigious multi-sport event on Wednesday (July 31).

Jasmine Lamboria and Lovlina Borgohain are the other two Indian women in the boxing contingent. The duo will open their respective Paris Olympics campaign next week.

While Jasmine faces Philippines' Nesthy Alcayde Petecio in the women's 57kg round of 32 on Tuesday (July 30), Borgohain, a bronze winner in Tokyo 2020, starts her campaign in Women's 75kg category round of 16 against Noway's Sunniva Hofstad on Wednesday (July 31).

In men's boxing, Amit Panghal and Nishant Dev also will start their respective 51kg and 71kg campaigns in the round of 16 next week. Panghal locks horns with Zambia's Patrick Chinyemba on Tuesday (July 30), while Dev faces Colombia's Jose Tenorio on August 1.