Going home after Olympic selection trial healed me, worked hard on my weaknesses after that: Nikhat Zareen

Those were the words Nikhat Zareen kept telling herself after she lost the trials for the Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers three years ago, following which she went home to "heal." Zareen had famously written to the then Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding a fair selection trial after the Boxing Federation of India decided to send the legendary MC Mary Kom directly for the Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers in 2019. "After the trial, I went home to relax my mind. Then (COVID-19) lockdown also happened, so I got to spend the whole of 2020 with my family," the newly-crowned world champion told PTI.

"I was able to heal myself during that lockdown and get out of that zone. I enjoyed spending time with my niece, eating food made by my mom. I kept believing whatever happens, happens for a good reason." The trial had turned into a messy affair with a furious Mary Kom asking “Who Nikhat Zareen?” Zareen eventually lost 1-9 to the veteran boxer during the trial, who refused to even shake hands with her young opponent.

“When things opened up, I went back to the camp, started training, beat the world champion which gave me confidence,” she added. Turns out a little time away from the camp to be with her family was all Zareen needed to reignite her passion to win medals for the country. Post the lockdown, Zareen has enjoyed a purple patch.