The Women Who Punched Away Social Stereotypes

Two girls from two states, two different backgrounds, but similar stories which intertwine over space and time. The podium in Istanbul was not just a dream pedestal for them, but a vehicle for Nikhat Zareen and Manisha Moun to change how their society perceived them, their family and their sport.

MC Mary Kom won the first of her six World Championship gold medals two decades ago. Nikhat Zareen was 4 years old when the Manipuri boxer made history. Two decades later, the girl from Nizamabad (Hyderabad), who became the World Boxing Champion in Flyweight category recently, is still breaking stereotypes.

Nikhat rolls back to the start, “Before coming into boxing I was an athlete- 100m/ 200metres was my event. There were no proper coaches in that district; hence my dad had to train me. I used to go for training at collector ground. Urban Games were going on there. I saw girls in all sport, except boxing. I asked my dad - 'why are there no girls in boxing?' Dad said that girls do box, but in our society they are considered weak. Girls cannot play contact sport. Since childhood I was stubborn, like a tom boy. No one thought I was a girl. I took Dad's statement as a challenge. I wanted to change the mentality of the society”

There are many who follow in her footsteps now. But back in the days it was not easy to convince her mother who was scared of scars on her face that would make her ineligible in the marriage market.

“After discussing with my dad, I started boxing. I was the first girl in that stadium to take up this sport. My first sparring session was with a boy. He hit me a lot. My nose was bleeding, had bruises on my eye. I went home like that. When my mum saw me like that, she started crying and said 'I do not want you to