In the sweltering heat of the Mumbai summer, Nikhat Zareen is climbing a monkey bar at St Peter’s Kindergarten in Bandra. The two-time boxing world champion is at her most relaxed as she shoots for Vogue India’s digital cover, spinning around in her yellow skirt and cracking self-deprecating jokes. Known for a sport associated with aggression and solemnity, Zareen’s impish wit is as surprising as it is heartening. What’s less surprising is her unwavering discipline. She is committed to getting the job done and getting it done right, posing with the ease of someone who is not just comfortable in their body but also best friends with it.
Both on and off camera, Zareen approaches the world with the same sincerity. She does not take herself too seriously—a quality that instantly endears her to those around her. The world champion is also a self-proclaimed foodie with a soft spot for biryani and vada pav. On set, she excitedly shares that she’s been dreaming of eating vada pav for days, adding an assortment of chutneys to her plate and asking others to not hold back either. Usually, the 28-year-old is on a strict diet, so days like this are rare.
Yet, Zareen does not begrudge missing out on good food or spending less time with her family. She knows it is her discipline and determination that have led to her success so far and is resolute in her dedication to paving a path ahead, not just for herself but for women across the nation too. And it’s these women, belonging to different cities, age groups, professions and communities who interview her for this cover story. From 16-year-old Kasha Sachdev from Mumbai asking Zareen about how she dealt with her first-ever sports injury to 57-year-old Anita Mahajan from Panipat enquiring if a career in sports has an expiry date, the boxer parries questions from women all over the country.
Açai G, 11, Aldona: At what stage did you know you wanted to box? And have you ever punched a boy outside the ring?
Nikhat Zareen: I started boxing when I was 13 years old. I’ve never punched a boy intentionally, but I did fight with a boy outside the ring. He was trying to be over-smart and I showed him his place.
Nupur Kanoi, 45, Kolkata: What goes through your mind when you’re in the boxing ring? How do you centre yourself?
Nikhat Zareen: Whenever I enter the ring, my only thought is: “Nikhat, you need to win this bout at any cost.” Whenever my focus is diverted, I try to motivate myself by thinking, “Nikhat, come back, you have to win this match. You can’t give up so easily.”
Parnika Agarwal, 21, Pilibhit: When I was in school, girls playing sports were never considered to be on the same level as boys, which was very discouraging. How do you motivate yourself or what do you do to feel better when things get too difficult?
Nikhat Zareen: When I started boxing, people used to tell me it was a male-dominated sport and that I had no future in it. But I always believed in myself. If you do not have that belief in yourself, you cannot succeed. It also takes a lot of hard work to make it in such a field. Whatever I am today is because of my hard work and self-belief.
Khatisha Yusuf Khan, 34, Ladakh: What has been a particularly memorable fight in your career? What did you learn from that fight?
Nikhat Zareen: Last year, when the world championship was happening in New Delhi, I was facing a Vietnamese boxer in my final bout. I had lost to her once in the 2019 Asian Championship semi-finals, so I was a bit nervous going up against her. When I won that match, I was so happy and emotional because I also won in front of my parents. That day, I realised that nothing is impossible. I got my revenge and I was happy to defeat her. Of course, we hugged each other right after.
Anju Mankotia, 59, Chandigarh: Can you tell us about a big sacrifice you had to make?
Nikhat Zareen: I’ve sacrificed a lot to be where I am today. The biggest sacrifice is staying away from my family. I love children and speaking to my sister’s children on the phone makes me really emotional because I’m not there to spend their childhood with them. I miss these things, but I know what my goal is and I know my sacrifices will be worth it when I achieve it. If I win, my parents and family will be happy. In the end, I’m doing all these things to make my parents proud.
Akshita Bhanj Deo, 30, Baripada: What do you believe are the key qualities and attributes that can empower women to take on leadership roles in sports?
Nikhat Zareen: I believe we women are strong in our own ways, be it physically or mentally. We also need to have empathy and understand each other’s problems to motivate each other. Those in leadership roles should not only support successful athletes, but also those who are going through a tough time or need help financially. When we support them, they will inevitably make our country proud.
Kasha Sachdev, 16, Mumbai: What advice would you give an athlete who is currently dealing with her first-ever sports injury and struggling to keep up mentally and emotionally in the recovery period?
Nikhat Zareen: I know this phase is tough because I’ve been in this situation. In 2017, I faced an injury and had to undergo surgery. I was so low, both physically and mentally. I was disturbed but I kept reminding myself that everything happens for a good reason. I took the injury positively, thinking it had come to teach me something. I finished my physical rehabilitation and made a strong comeback. I believe an injury teaches an athlete a lot, and you return as a completely different athlete. Since my comeback, I’ve won medals in all my competitions. When I look back on those days, I feel very proud that I didn’t give up. Never give up—just keep going and your time will come.
Anita Mahajan, 57, Panipat: Do you think a career in sports comes with an earlier expiry date?
Nikhat Zareen: An athlete’s career is definitely short, but it also depends on many factors. If an athlete is not physically and mentally fit and faces a lot of injuries, their shelf life will decrease even further. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is very important to ensure a prolonged career as an athlete. I say this, but I’m stuffing myself with vada pavs.
Ritu Chhabria, 45, Bengaluru: How do you enhance your performance?
Nikhat Zareen: By being disciplined, eating healthy and ignoring junk food.
Madhavi Zamindar, 58, Indore: What do you think is the best way for a parent to support their child’s dreams? Can you tell us about your experience with this growing up?
Nikhat Zareen: I was always a very active child and wanted to do something in sports. My dad was a sportsman himself, so he understood my feelings and supported me. That’s how I am a world champion today. I think every parent should support their kids, no matter what field they want to pursue. If parents support their children, their kids will make them proud one day.
Kashma Goyal, 29, Delhi: Since sports as a whole is a male-dominated arena, did you ever feel like you had to work harder than your male counterparts on the path to success?
Nikhat Zareen: I was the first girl to start boxing in my district. Fortunately, I didn’t face any comparison to men. In fact, there were boys who used to motivate me by doing partner training with me. It’s because of their support that I could adopt these techniques early. Because of their support, I could win the state championship within one year and also win the world boxing championship in the junior category in 2011.
Saachi Gupta, 23, Mumbai: It’s known that your favourite food is biryani. What is your least favourite food?
Nikhat Zareen: I am a big foodie and will eat whatever you give me, but the two things I dislike are spinach and bitter gourd.
Gunreet Kaur, 27, Bhatinda: How do you celebrate after winning a tournament?
Nikhat Zareen: I celebrate with my teammates by eating lots of sweets, cheesecakes, pizzas and burgers because these are the items usually available internationally. I can’t eat biryani abroad, so I wait until I’m home to eat biryani.
Vijayalakshmi Iyer, 26, Wanaparthy: If you could swap lives with any athlete for a day, who would it be and why?
Nikhat Zareen: I want to swap lives with Cristiano Ronaldo because I want to know what it feels like to be the greatest of all time.
Photographed by Prarthna Singh
Styled by Tania Fadte
Hair and makeup: Nitu Tamang
Art director: Aishwaryashree
Bookings editor: Aliza Fatma
Senior entertainment editor (consultant): Rebecca Gonsalves
Production: P Productions
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