The new Tiger in town: Nikhat Zareen, out of Mary’s shadow & now World Champion

Nikhat Zareen has an open, expansive, unfeigned personality outside the boxing ring. Not quite the bravado of the open guard inside of the ring that will invite a crushing flurry. But there were remnants of exuberance from outside of the square, that needed reining in and some tightening, if she has to step out of MC Mary Kom’s shadow in the women’s flyweight division, and make a mark internationally. The gold at Strandja, beating the Olympic silver medallist in March was a start. The World Championship title at Turkey, was announcing her proper arrival.

The 25-year-old had audaciously gone warring to stake claim to even be the challenger prior to the last Olympics, asking Mary Kom to fetch up for a trial. Having earned her place as a contender now with Mary stepping aside, and crucially Nikhat getting the wins under her belt, there was now the start of the actual battle — on the international level, beginning with this May World Championships. Someone’s kept her on the straight and narrow of ‘Planet Athlete-hungry-for-success’ clearly, because she holds herself back from a self-appraisal of 10/10 when quizzed about her footwork. “I want to sound humble. So, chalo, theeke, 9/10 for footwork,” she chuckled in a mock-grudging tone.

Mary Kom danced when ducking and danced when dashing forth in the 51kg ring, through her twinkling footwork. Nikhat reckons she’s not lead-footed at all, far from it. But given there’s miles to go before Paris comes along, she keeps assessments conservative with plenty of scope for improvement: “Speed 7/10. Power in the punches 8/10.”

Cumulative coolness from being a die-hard Salman Khan fan? 20/10. “Very big fan. Fan kya, AC samjho. I believe he hasn’t married yet, because he’s waiting for me,” she says in mock-grandiose tone, a bonafide pugilist, whose pre-punch, pre-jab is the pure bluster, uttered for effect.

Though not quite the Dabangg-fan here. “I used to be a big fan of his in Hum Saath-Saath Hain. That innocence on his face. Salman of ’90s,” says the Bhai-buff, though for someone born only in 1997, the movie mania in Nizamabad must’ve started much later. “I’m waiting for his new Tiger movie,” she reminds.

But first came boxing in serendipitous ways, to the girl who started out as a sprinter.