Weary from a challenging loss, Nikhat Zareen valiantly restrained her tears as she recounted the trials she faced both within the ring and in the 48 hours preceding the pre-quarter final bout against China’s Wu Yu, until she finally succumbed to her emotions.
Touted as one of India’s strongest medal prospects before the Games, Nikhat bowed out of the Olympics after a heartbreaking 0-5 loss to the top-seeded Chinese boxer at the North Paris Arena on Thursday.
“I will come back strong,” Nikhat said at least five times, probably trying to convince herself and everyone else around her that the Olympic road does not end here
for her.
Nikhat, a two-time world champion, trained on an empty stomach, could not sleep the night before the pre-quarter final and kept thinking about the match against the reigning Asian Games gold medallist Yu, who is also a 2023 world champion in flyweight (52kg).
Eventually, her worst fears came true as she lost the battle of the world champions.
“Sorry guys, I could not win a medal for the country. I have made a lot of sacrifices to reach here. I had prepared myself well mentally and physically for this Olympics,” she said. “I had not eaten in the last two days, I had to maintain weight. I did not even have water, and only after the weigh-in, I had some water, but I had no time to recover, I was first in the ring today (Thursday),” said Nikhat.
What next? Nikhat said she plans to go on a solo trip and spend some quality time with her family as she takes her first step towards recovery from the heartbreaking loss.
Nikhat refused suggestions that she felt pressure but admitted that the bout consumed her thoughts entirely.
“This bout was on my mind 24 hours. I just kept thinking about it. I had not played her before. She was faster. It was an intense bout. It happens. I lost to the No. 1 seed, no regrets. “
She tried to put up a brave face during the 15-minute interaction but finally broke down before retiring from the media interaction.
Nethra lies sixth
Making her second Olympic appearance, Indian sailor Nethra Kumanan finished sixth in Race 1 of the women’s dinghy sailing competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
A total of 10 races will take place in the opening series of the dinghy sailing events at the ongoing Summer Games. The boats ranked in the top 10 at the end of the series will make the medal round.
In the men’s dinghy event, Vishnu Saravanan finished 10th in his first race and 34th in the second.
Golfers struggle
Indian golfers Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar struggled in Round 1 of the competition.
The event at the Le Golf National on Thursday saw Shubhankar finish tied 29th with a total of 70, while
Bhullar was tied 56th with a total of 75. The par for the course is 71.
The top three golfers at the end of four rounds will be awarded medals.
Pravin bows out
Archer Pravin Jadhav bowed out of the Olympics after losing his individual men’s recurve opening round clash in straight sets to Kao Wenchao of China. Jadhav lost 0-6 (28-29, 29-30, 27-28) in the Round of 64.
Walkers stumble
National record holder Priyanka Goswami finished a poor 41st in the women’s 20km race walk, while Vikash Singh and Paramjeet Singh ended 30th and 37th respectively in the men’s event as Indian race walkers produced a disappointing show. National record holder Akshdeep Singh pulled out after the 6km mark.
