India, March 22 -- Some losses take time to overcome. Nikhat Zareen has replayed her defeat at the Paris Olympics against China's Wu Yu numerous times, contemplating what alternative strategies she could have employed in the ring that day.

Months have passed as she worked through her disappointment, and now the two-time world champion is poised to return to the competitive arena this year. The confirmation of boxing's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has revitalized her enthusiasm.

"There were concerns that boxing would not be part of the LA Games, and I feared my dream of winning an Olympic medal was shattered. However, I now feel I have another opportunity to represent India at the Olympics and achieve my dream," Nikhat expressed during the women's national championships.

After recovering from a minor injury, the 28-year-old is training at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, aiming for a comeback by May. Her goals include the World Championships in September and the World Cup, which will be held in India later this year, as she strives for a third world title.

"Following the Paris Olympics, I resumed training but experienced some knee pain. An MRI revealed a minor injury, and my doctor advised a rehabilitation period of 3-4 months. I completed that in Hyderabad. I am now well and have been training at ASI Pune since January. However, to regain competitive fitness, I need to focus on ring endurance, and I plan to return in May," she stated, noting that she will not participate in the nationals.

"The positive aspect is that we now have clarity regarding the international calendar and the future of boxing. I did not feel pressured to return, but boxing's reinstatement and the establishment of an international federation, it marks a significant step and a new experience. I am eagerly anticipating the World Championships and the World Cup."

The unexpected loss to gold medallist Wu Yu in the Round of 16 in Paris was a significant setback for Nikhat, who appeared to be out of sync during the match.

"Moving on from a defeat is not something that happens easily. One must accept it and dedicate oneself to more rigorous training. This is the mindset I have cultivated.

"I have reviewed the match and identified numerous errors. There are moments when you think, 'I could have landed that punch, and it would have hit the target.' However, the dynamics in the ring are different. In real-time situations, your mind and body respond in unexpected ways. My match took place in the morning, and my body did not have adequate time to recover. Competing against one of the top boxers, I found my energy levels insufficient to match such a high-caliber opponent. My body was not cooperating. All I can do now is train harder and focus on these aspects."

Outside the ring, Nikhat relishes the attention she receives, feeling honoured to share moments with 2008 Beijing Olympics medallists Vijender Singh, Manoj Kumar, and Sarita Devi.

Anamika and Nitu progress

On the second day of the elite women's nationals, Railways boxer Anamika Hooda advanced to the quarterfinals in the 50kg category with a commanding victory. The national champion delivered powerful strikes against Andhra Pradesh's Manasa Veni Anakapalli, leading to a first-round stoppage by the referee. She had previously achieved a similar win (RSC) against Sikkim's Prava Gajneer in the first round.

Nitu Ghanghas and Jasmine Lamboria also moved forward with notable wins at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex. World champion Nitu triumphed over Rajasthan's Anjali Choudhary (45-48kg), while Jaismine, representing SSCB (Services), secured a 5-0 victory against Uttar Pradesh's Ice Prajapati.

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