Wanted To Prove "Girls Are Strong Enough To Box": Nikhat Zareen To NDTV

India's Nikhat Zareen won the gold medal in the 52kg category at the Women's World Boxing Championship last week and she has been given a hero's welcome since returning to the country. The champion boxer came to the NDTV studios on Monday and spoke on a range of topics, including the tweet from Salman Khan in response to her earlier interview to the channel.

"I want to thank you all for that. I still want to say that he is not my bhai. My hands were shivering after I saw the tweet," Nikhat quipped when asked about the congratulatory tweet from Salman.

"When I was typing my hands were shaking and I was emotional. That tweet (from Salman Khan) made my day," Nikhat, the self-confessed Salman Khan fan added.

The 25-year old also spoke about how she took to boxing, as she was earlier into athletics.

"Before coming into boxing I was into athletics. 100 and 200 metres were my events. As there were no proper facilities or coaches in that district, my dad had to train me. I saw girls in every sport but boxing.

"I asked my father why there weren't too many women in boxing. He told me that women also do boxing but in our society women are perceived to be weak to take part in a sport like boxing. Since childhood I was stubborn and a tom boy. No one used to think that I was a girl as I behaved like boys mostly. I took that statement as a challenge and decided that I will change the mentality of the society, that we girls are strong enough to pick up such sports also. After that I discussed with my dad and we decided that I would join boxing," a proud Nikhat said.

She also spoke about being a completely different person when she is out of the ring.

"I am two different personalities. Inside the ring I am serious, calm and composed and