NEW DELHI: Indian women boxers made history by winning the overall team title in the IBA World Boxing Championships, held at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium in Delhi from March 15 to 26.
Led by world champion Nikhat Zareen, the Indian women won an unprecedented four gold medals to be crowned the overall champions. This was the first time ever that India won the overall title in the World Boxing Championships. Apart from Nikhat, Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg), Nitu Ganghas (48 kg) and Saweety Boora (81 kg) were the other three Golden Girls for the hosts.
While reigning world champion Nikhat Zareen was the hot favourite to retain the title she won in Istanbul last year, she retained the gold in the 50 kg category with a facile win over two-time Asian Champion Nguyen Tam of Vietnam in the final.
In the process, the Hyderabad boxer became only the second Indian boxer ever to defend her world title after the indomitable Mary Kom. The 50-kg category was the most hotly contested event with as many as 35 boxers in the fray
