New Delhi: India’s star boxer Nikhat Zareen made a winning return at the World Boxing Championships on Saturday, but Tokyo Olympics medallist Lovlina Borgohain and debutant Hitesh Gulia suffered early exits.
Competing unseeded in the women’s 51kg category, two-time world champion Nikhat, who had been out of action since an injury setback at the Paris event last August, looked in fine touch.
She dominated her opening-round bout against USA’s Jennifer Lozano, securing a 5-0 unanimous verdict in the round of 32.
Lovlina, however, endured a shock first-round defeat in the women’s 75kg division.
The top-seeded Assamese pugilist struggled for rhythm against Turkey’s Busra Isildar, who capitalised on clinches and landed cleaner blows to claim a convincing 5-0 win.
India’s disappointment continued in the men’s 70kg category, where third seed Hitesh Gulia went down 1-4 to the Netherlands’ Bos Finn Robert.
Despite showing early promise with sharp counter-punching and aggression in the second round, Gulia faltered in the decider after taking a heavy hook that left him briefly dazed and forced a standing count.
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The Dutch boxer used the momentum to close out the contest.
Meanwhile, in the men’s +90kg division, Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal advanced to the round of 16.
After a slow start, Narender found his range with straight punches to outclass Ireland’s Martin Christopher McDonagh 4-1 in a split decision late on Friday night.
Nikhat’s confident comeback provided the lone highlight for India on an otherwise mixed day, with the focus now shifting to Narender and other boxers who are set to continue their campaigns in the coming rounds.
