Paris Olympics 2024: Nikhat Zareen exits after tough loss to China's Wu Yu

By Ajay Gandhar

Ajay Gandhar has been part of Khel Now since 2023 and has covered almost every Olympic sport, but Badminton, Tennis, Football, and Track and Field have his heart.

Published at :August 1, 2024 at 4:12 PM

Modified at :August 1, 2024 at 4:12 PM

Paris Olympics 2024: Nikhat Zareen exits after tough loss to China's Wu Yu

(Courtesy : Screenshot Jio Cinema)

Only two Indian boxers remain in contention now.

Indian boxing star Nikhat Zareen’s first Olympic journey came to an end today in Paris. The two-time world champion lost to China’s Wu Yu in the Round of 16 of the women’s 50kg category. All five judges scored the match in favour of Wu, resulting in a 5-0 defeat for Zareen.

The match started with Wu taking control early on. She landed more punches in the first 90 seconds, while Zareen seemed to hang back and observe her opponent. Although Zareen improved in the second round, she still struggled to land enough effective hits. The final round solidified Wu’s dominance, leading to her clear victory.

This loss is particularly disappointing for Zareen and her supporters. As a world champion, she was seen as a strong contender for an Olympic medal. However, the draw put her up against a tough opponent early in the competition.

World champion Zareen falls to top seed Wu Yu in round of 16. Despite a valiant effort, the Indian boxer's Olympic dream comes to an endShe lost by unanimous decision#Paris2024 #ParisOlympics2024 pic.twitter.com/kXVoXQRnHO
— Khel Now (@KhelNow) August 1, 2024

Just days earlier, Zareen had shown her fighting spirit in the previous round. She defeated Germany’s Maxi Carina Kloetzer in a close match on Sunday. Despite trailing on three judges’ scorecards after the first round, Zareen rallied to win unanimously.

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Zareen entered the Olympics without a seed, which can lead to challenging match-ups early in the tournament. This proved to be the case, as she faced a formidable opponent in Wu Yu before reaching the quarter-finals.

Four of six Indian boxers have exited the Olympic tournament. Amit Panghal, Preeti Pawar and Nikhat Zareen fell in the Round of 16, while Jaismine Lamboria lost in the Round of 32. However, hope remains, as Lovlina Borgohain and Nishant Dev have advanced to the quarter-finals. Nishant faces Mexico’s Marco Verde on Saturday, while Borgohain takes on China’s Li Qian on Sunday.

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Ajay Gandhar

Ajay Gandhar has been part of Khel Now since 2023 and has expertise across a wide range of Olympic sports. While his coverage spans the Olympic spectrum, he is passionate about Badminton, Tennis, Football, and Track and Field. Beyond his primary focus areas, Ajay is also an avid kabaddi enthusiast and closely follows the sport.