Published 21:51 IST, November 9th 2019
Tokyo Olympics 2020: Nikhat Zareen wants to fight Mary Kom in trial
Nikhat Zarren wants to face Mary Kom for getting selected into the Tokyo Olympics, 2020. Mary Kom is okay with the fight if BFI gives it a 'green signal'.
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Indian boxing is going through a revolution and it involves a war of words among two eminent women boxers of the nation. Nikhat Zareen is ready to face the six-time world champion Mary Kom in the Olympics selection trial for representing India in the 51kg category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. According to reports, the president of Boxing Federation of India (BFI), Ajay Singh has declared the information through his office staff on Friday and both the boxers will be notified soon.
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Tokyo Olympics 2020 ticket: Mary Kom vs Nikhat Zareen
The winner of the gold medal in 16th Senior Woman National Boxing (2015), Nikhat Zareen wants to face Mary Kom in a trial bout before BFI decides India’s squad for Tokyo Olympic qualifiers. BFI President, Ajay Singh said that all the medal winners at the World Championships should automatically be nominated for Wuhan qualifiers. This statement effectively shut the doors for Nikhat, since she is yet to win a medal at World Championship. The 23-year-old Nikhat Zareen then reportedly wrote to the Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and demanded a fair opportunity to make her way into the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. According to Zareen, she wants to face Mary Kom in a trial bout and if she notches a victory, she should get selected for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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Tokyo Olympics 2020: Mary Kom’s reply
In response to the challenge, Mary Kom recently gave a cheeky reply and ignored Nikhat Zareen’s call out. According to the Olympic gold medallist, she doesn’t know who Nikhat Zareen is. However, the match-up is still possible. According to Mary Kom, she will face Nikhat if BFI arranges the fight and the six-time world champion feels that BFI is the perfect body to make calls. Mary Kom considers BFI as a perfect body to look after the sport and she is ready to go as per their directions. Have a look at Mary Kom’s interview:
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15:55 IST, November 9th 2019