Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen undergoes successful knee surgery, vows strong comeback
New Delhi, July 18
Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen has revealed that she successfully underwent knee surgery and is now focused on making a strong comeback.
In a post on Instagram, Nikhat said that she underwent knee surgery after months of battling pain, thanking her doctors at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and her sponsor, Reliance Foundation Sports, for their support. Expressing faith and determination, she said her recovery has begun and vowed to return stronger than ever.
"Life threw me a curveball, but I'm choosing to come back stronger. The past few months have been tough, dealing with a knee pain that eventually led to surgery. Recovery starts now, one step at a time, with patience, faith and determination. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, the entire team at Kokilaben Hospital and my sponsor @RFYouthSports for their incredible care and support. I believe Allah is preparing me for something greater. This is just a pause, not the end. I'll be back soon. Stronger than ever," she wrote in an Instagram post.
Notably, two-time world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nikhat Zareen missed out on selection for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after suffering a surprise defeat in the national trials in Patiala in May.
Nikhat's campaign at the national trials ended in the semi-finals after she suffered a surprise 4-1 defeat to Sakshi Chaudhary, who went on to clinch the women's 51kg title by beating reigning 48kg world champion Minakshi Hooda 5-0 in the final.
Minakshi had defeated former world champion and Commonwealth Games 2022 gold medallist Nitu Ghanghas in the semi-finals.
Although Hooda clinched gold in the 48kg category at the Asian Boxing Championships, the weight class does not feature in the programmes for either the Asian Games or the Commonwealth Games.
As a result, Minakshi moved up to the 51kg division, where her campaign ended with a defeat to Sakshi Chaudhary.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Tough break for Nikhat, but her attitude is inspiring. She's right - this is just a pause, not the end. Indian women's boxing is in a golden era with talent like Nikhat, Sakshi, Minakshi and Nitu pushing each other. Healthy competition is good for the sport! 🇮🇳
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Nikhat! Your strength is an inspiration to young girls across India. The 51kg division is getting ultra-competitive - Sakshi and Minakshi are also brilliant boxers. This depth shows how far Indian women's boxing has come!
All the best for a full recovery, champ! But honestly, it's concerning that our boxers are getting injured so frequently. The sports authorities need to look into better conditioning programs and medical support for our athletes. Let's not just celebrate comebacks but prevent injuries too!
"Allah is preparing me for something greater" - that's the spirit, Nikhat! 🙌 It's wonderful to see athletes balancing faith and determination. The Reliance Foundation and Kokilaben Hospital have done great work. Can't wait to watch you back in action, stronger than ever! 💪
Wishing you a smooth recovery from Canada! 🇨🇦 I've followed your journey since the world championships. Your mental toughness is remarkable. This setback will only make your comeback story more inspiring. Take all the time you need - the ring will be waiting! 🥊
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