The current IBA women's boxing world champion is aiming for gold at the Paris Olympics.
Two-time boxing world champion Nikhat Zareen is ready to step out of the shadow of fellow Indian MC Mary Kom after winning a medal at the Paris Olympics, said her coach Blas Iglesias Fernandes.
Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom is the face of women's boxing in India, and her illustrious career inspired a 2014 Bollywood biopic.
She cemented her accomplishment by winning a flyweight bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, and announced her retirement earlier this year.
Zareen made her Olympic debut in the 50kg category in Paris and Fernandes expects the 27-year-old to return and compete for a medal.
“Now is the time for Nikato to prove himself,” the Cuban said in a Sports Authority of India (SAI) media release on Tuesday.
“It is true that she has lived in Mary Kom's shadow, but now is her chance to prove herself and make India proud.”
Fernandes has worked with India's top boxers since 1990, including Mary Kom, and is the only foreigner to win India's top coach award.
The 68-year-old, now India's best coach, was particularly pleased with Zareen's ring awareness.
“I love Nikhat's boxing (style). She is very intelligent. She has good ring tactics,” he said.
Fernandes said India could hope to win a second medal in women's boxing if Lovlina Borgohain, who won bronze in the welterweight division at the Tokyo Olympics, can display her “killer instinct”.
“Lovlina has to show more killer instincts,” he said of the boxer, who had to change her weight from 69kg to 75kg after the Olympic categories were revised.
“I watched some of her matches and I think Lovlina lost because she wasn't aggressive and assertive enough.
“If she can box to her potential, she could be within the medal range in Paris.”
India has secured four spots for women in Paris.
Fernandes expected the male boxers to perform well in the world qualifiers in Bangkok, where India could take nine spots in Paris.
“I think Nishant Dev and Amit Panghal can achieve the Paris quota. They both have the potential to do this,” he said.
“Men's boxing is very tough and should not be compared to women's boxing, which is relatively easy to compete in.”
