Retired footballer and cricketer Mohammad Jameel aspired for one of his four daughters to do something in sport. Nikhat Zareen, the Nizamabad native’s third daughter, chose athletics. Nikhat emerged as the state champion in both sprint events as a young man, but on the recommendation of an uncle, he entered the boxing ring. She was awarded World Youth Boxing Champion at the age of 14 and appeared to be a significant force.
Nikhat Zameel Father Opens up on her journey
But living in the shadow of the renowned Mary Kom meant a long wait for her turn in the spotlight. She missed a whole year in 2017 due to a shoulder injury.
after 5 years, Nikhat won the flyweight (52 kg) world title with a largely determined victory over Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas. In an exclusive interview with Indian express, her father said that “Winning gold at the World Championships will serve as an encouragement to Muslim girls, as well as every girl in the country, to strive for greater things in life.” “A child, whether male or girl, must choose their own path, and Nikhat has done just that,”
It was difficult for the Jameel family because the sport required females to wear shorts and training shirts. With the backing of both her parents, notably her mother Parveen Sultana, the child would go on to win the 2011 World Youth Championship in Turkey, defeating Ulku Demir of Turkey. “I worked as a sales assistant in Saudi Arabia for 15 years before relocating to Nizamabad to support my daughter’s schooling and sports.”
Zareen has defeated ex light-flyweight (51kg) world champion Ekaterina Paltceva of Russia and two senior light fly-weight world champion Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan in the previous three years. Prior to the global championships, she defeated Busenaz Cakiroglu of Turkey in the Strandja Memorial.