World Boxing Championships: Nikhat Zareen rules on return, Lovlina Borgohain falls flat

Two of India’s leading boxing stars, Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain, experienced contrasting fortunes at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool on Saturday.While Nikhat marked a triumphant return to the ring, Lovlina endured a shock early exit. There was no rust, no hesitation and no hint of doubt when Nikhat stepped into the ring for her round-of-32 clash against USA’s Jennifer Lozano in the women’s 51kg division.Returning after being sidelined by injury since her second-round exit at the Paris Olympics, the two-time world champion looked a picture of confidence.Nikhat dictated the bout right from the opening bell. Using her trademark footwork to control the ring, she unleashed quick, precise jabs that broke through Lozano’s guard. Her combinations were fluid, backed by sharp upper-body movement that left her opponent frequently swinging at thin air.The judges’ final scorecards reflected Nikhat’s dominance — a unanimous 5-0 decision in her favour. More than just a win, it was a statement performance that signalled her intent to reclaim her spot at the top of women’s boxing.The body language told its own story. At the final bell, Nikhat walked back to her corner with a triumphant grin, assured of the scoreline even before it was announced. Her coach’s applause and the crowd’s cheers underlined that this was more than a standard opening round win — it was a comeback laced with authority.While Nikhat soared, Lovlina’s return to international competition followed a disappointing script. Back in action after a long stretch on the sidelines, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, seeded No. 1 in the women’s 75kg category, was expected to carry deep into the competition. Instead, she was stunned in the pre-quarterfinals by Turkey’s Busra Isildar, losing 0-5.The result was not just an upset. It was a reminder of how unforgiving international competition can be. Isildar, known for her aggressive style, crowded Lovlina from the start, denying her the range she prefers to operate from. While Lovlina tried to counter with measured punches, she looked a step behind her Turkish opponent, often unable to assert control.By the midway stage, the momentum had swung heavily towards Isildar, who grew bolder with every exchange. Lovlina, in contrast, seemed tentative — her rhythm disrupted, her reaction sluggish. The unanimous verdict against the Indian underscored how one bad day can undo the best of seeding and reputation.Hitesh exitsThe men’s competition brought its own dose of drama with Hitesh Gulia’s campaign ending in the 70kg category. A two-time World Cup medallist, making his World Championships debut, Gulia carried the hope of sustaining India’s challenge on the men’s side.Seeded third, expectations were high. For much of his round-of-32 bout against Netherlands’ Bos Finn Robert, Gulia appeared in control. His movement was sharp, as he accumulated early points. But boxing can be decided in moments and a costly lapse late in the contest tilted the balance.Robert seized the opening with calculated aggression, capitalizing on Gulia’s dropped guard, and secured enough scoring punches in the final exchange to sway the judges. The eventual 1-4 scoreline went against Gulia but the bout was far closer.Jaismine, Narender advanceEarlier, World Boxing Cup gold medallist Jaismine Lamboria defeated Daria-Olha Hutarina of Ukraine 5-0 in the women’s 57kg bout to move into the pre-quarterfinals. Also entering the pre-quarters was Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal, who opened his men’s 90+ kg campaign with a 4-1 win over Martin McDonagh of Ireland.