Indian boxing star Nikhat Zareen suffered a major setback after crashing out of the national selection trials for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, ending her hopes of representing India at two of the biggest multi-sport events this year.
The two-time world champion lost 1-4 via split decision to Sakshi Chaudhary in the women’s 51kg semifinals during the trials held at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala. The defeat effectively ruled her out of both the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan.
Following the defeat, Nikhat openly criticised the chaotic build-up to the trials, describing the previous two weeks as “torturous” for Indian boxers. She said athletes were mentally and physically drained because of the ongoing conflict between the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) over the selection process.
The controversy began after the BFI initially introduced an assessment-based selection system instead of the traditional trials. However, after complaints from athletes and objections from SAI over lack of transparency, the federation was forced to scrap the system and return to open trials at the last minute.
Nikhat said the uncertainty surrounding the selection process severely affected the athletes’ preparation and mental condition. She stated that boxers were “crushed” between the administrative tussle involving the two sports bodies.
The defeat marks another difficult phase for the Telangana boxer, who has struggled for consistency since the Paris Olympics. Nikhat had earlier missed direct qualification for the Asian Games after falling short at the Asian Championships in Mongolia.
The trials also produced several surprise results, including reigning world champion Nitu Ghanghas losing in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Sakshi Chaudhary’s victory over Nikhat has been viewed as one of the biggest upsets in recent Indian boxing history.
Many boxers participating in the trials reportedly welcomed the return of the trial-based system, saying it was more transparent and fair compared to the earlier assessment method. Athletes told PTI that the assessment system created confusion and uncertainty because selection criteria were unclear.
Despite the setback, boxing officials believe Nikhat is likely to continue in the national camp and prepare for future international competitions, including Olympic qualification events leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
