Nikhat Zareen Undergoes Knee Surgery, Aims for Strong Comeback

Nikhat Zareen's Journey to Recovery

Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen has announced that she has successfully completed knee surgery and is now dedicated to her recovery process. In an Instagram update, she shared her experience of enduring knee pain for several months before opting for surgery, expressing gratitude towards her medical team at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and her sponsor, Reliance Foundation Sports, for their unwavering support.

Nikhat conveyed her determination to return to the ring, stating, "Life threw me a curveball, but I’m choosing to come back stronger. The past few months have been tough, dealing with a knee pain that eventually led to surgery. Recovery starts now, one step at a time, with patience, faith, and determination. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, the entire team at Kokilaben Hospital, and my sponsor @RFYouthSports for their incredible care and support. I believe Allah is preparing me for something greater. This is just a pause, not the end. I’ll be back soon. Stronger than ever."

The two-time world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist faced disappointment recently, as she was unable to secure a spot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after an unexpected loss during the national trials held in Patiala in May.

In the semi-finals of the trials, Nikhat was defeated 4-1 by Sakshi Chaudhary, who later won the women’s 51kg title by defeating reigning 48kg world champion Minakshi Hooda 5-0 in the finals. Minakshi had previously triumphed over former world champion and Commonwealth Games 2022 gold medalist Nitu Ghanghas in the semi-finals.

Although Hooda secured gold in the 48kg category at the Asian Boxing Championships, this weight class is not included in the events for the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games. Consequently, Minakshi moved up to the 51kg division, where her journey concluded with a loss to Sakshi Chaudhary.