Nikhat's journey into boxing began at the age of 13. Her father, Mohammed Jameel Ahmed, initially encouraged his children to participate in sports like football and cricket. However, after observing a lack of female boxers, he switched Nikhat to boxing. This decision was influenced by a family member's advice.

Career Highlights

Nikhat has achieved significant milestones in her career. She is a two-time world champion, winning gold in the 50kg category in 2023 and the 52kg category in 2022. She is the fifth Indian woman to win a gold medal at the world championships and the second to do so outside India after Mary Kom.

Memorable Achievements

Among her memorable achievements are winning gold medals at the 2022 World Championships in Istanbul and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She also secured a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Challenges and Rivalries

Nikhat's career has not been without challenges. She sought to overturn Mary Kom's selection for Tokyo 2020. Despite her appeal to the federal sports minister, Kom won their bout with a 9-1 verdict. The bout ended without a customary handshake.

Category Switch

After her victory in the women's flyweight (52kg) category at the 2022 World Championships, Nikhat dropped to the light flyweight (50kg) class for the Commonwealth Games. She will compete at this weight at Paris 2024. "I had to work harder for this to cut two kilogrammes," she said.

Awards and Recognition

Nikhat has received several awards for her outstanding performance. She was named Sportstar Aces Sportswoman of the Year in the Olympic category in 2023 and received the Arjuna Award for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games in India in 2022.

Personal Life and Interests

Nikhat enjoys watching films during her free time. She works as an athlete and staff officer at Bank of India. Her family includes her father, mother Parveen Sultana, and three sisters.

Influences and Philosophy

Nikhat cites her parents as her primary influence and boxer Mary Kom as her hero. Her philosophy is simple: "When you have a dream to achieve, just keep working hard. Never give up and believe in yourself."

Future Ambitions

Nikhat aims to become the first woman boxer to win an Olympic gold medal for India. With her determination and track record, she is well on her way to achieving this goal.