Nikhat Zareen Clinches Gold at World Boxing Cup Finals After 32 Months, Signals Major Comeback
PakkaHyderabadi 
Nikhat Zareen during her gold medal bout at the 2025 World Boxing Cup Finals, where she clinched a dominant 5–0 victory.
Star Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen made a triumphant return to the top on Thursday, clinching gold at the 2025 World Boxing Cup Finals with a commanding 5–0 win over Guo Yi-xuan of Chinese Taipei in the women’s 51 kg category. The victory marks her first gold medal in 32 months, her previous top-podium finish coming at the 2023 New Delhi World Championships.
“I always believe in manifestation… I knew I would repeat this in India. It’s always a pleasure to play in front of a home crowd,” an emotional Nikhat said after her win.
A Comeback After Tough Setbacks
The last year had been difficult for Nikhat. She exited in the Round of 16 at the Paris Olympics, losing to eventual champion Wu Yu, and fell in the quarterfinals of the World Championships in Liverpool earlier this year.
Now, in front of a roaring home crowd, she has put behind her a string of disappointments.
“This medal is a big boost for my confidence… After a long time, I reached the final and won gold,” she said.
Quick Turnaround and Intense Training
Nikhat revealed that she had almost no recovery time after the World Championships. After spending a few days with her family, she rushed to Patiala for training.
There, she sparred with boxers across divisions — 48 kg to 57 kg — to prepare herself for the Finals.
A Smaller Field, But a Significant Win
The 2025 World Cup Finals saw reduced participation. In Nikhat’s weight category, only five boxers competed, giving her a bye directly to the semifinals, where she defeated Uzbekistan’s Gulsevar Ganieva unanimously.
Though the field was narrow, the victory holds major emotional weight for the two-time world champion.
Dream of a Boxing Academy in Telangana
Nikhat highlighted the lack of a proper academy near her home and expressed her wish to set up one herself.
“If the Telangana government allocates land, I will build my own academy to support rising boxers from the region,” she said.
Looking Ahead to a Crucial 2026 Season
With major events like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games lined up in 2026, Nikhat says this win is only the beginning.
“This is just the start… A lot more has to be done,” she said, signalling her renewed hunger and determination.
