Our paths will cross and it'll be Indian boxing's loss: Nitu Ghanghas on rivalry with Nikhat Zareen

We are talking about women’s World champion Nikhat Zareen and two-time World youth champion Nitu Ghanghas – both a CWG gold medallist at the recently-held Games in Birmingham. While Nikhat won the gold in the light flyweight (50kg) division, the Strandja memorial champion Nitu came out trumps in the minimumweight (48kg) competition. But, the scenario will change for the Hangzhou Asiad in September-October next year and the Paris Games.

Nikhat will drop down from her non-Olympic weight category of 52kg – in which she had won the Worlds gold – to 50kg to push her case for inclusion in the Olympic-bound boxing squad. Similarly, Nitu will come up to 50kg from her preferred 48kg division to challenge Nikhat. For the uninitiated, the Olympic women’s boxing will feature six weight classes – 50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 66kg and 75kg.

Talking about the Asian Games, the women’s competition will be held across five weight categories – 51kg, 57kg, 60kg, 69kg and 75kg. According to the two, their body weight kept hovering in the range of 51-52kg during the non-competition days before cutting it down to the specific limit for the event. For them, competing in the light flyweight category is their best shot to medal glory and Nitu is ready to throw up a challenge to her senior pro.

The 21-year-old from Haryana knows that their paths will collide during the selection trials to pick the team for the Asian Games and for the Olympic qualifiers next year. Before that, the two would look to brush up their skillset at the women’s World championships in May-June at a venue yet to be decided. “I am ready for Nikhat’s challenge.

I know that we will soon be facing each other at the trials. I fear no opponent after my CWG triumph,” Nitu declared. “For