Nikhat made short work of Brazil’s Caroline De Almeida to notch up a dominant 5-0 win.
However, Manisha Moun (57kg) and debutant Parveen Hooda (63kg) settled for bronze medals.
๐๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ! ๐คฉ๐ฎ๐ณโs @nikhat_zareen becomes first ๐ฎ๐ณ boxer to cement her place in the ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ of #IBAWWC2022 as she dโฆ https://t.co/IfcWNmwbX9
โ Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) 1652875409000
While Manisha lost to Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Irma Testa of Italy by 0-5 unanimous decision, Parveen went down by a 1-4 split verdict to European championship bronze medallist Amy Broadhurst.
Zareen, who is a former junior world champion, stayed calm and completely dominated her rival for a 5-0 win by unanimous decision in the last-four bout of the 52kg competition.
BRONZE IT IS ! ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ณโs #Manisha (57kg) finished her #IBAWWC2022 crusade with the ๐ฅ medal! ๐๐Congratulations, chamโฆ https://t.co/5VI5VMTR0Z
โ Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) 1652877098000
The 2019 Asian Championships bronze medallist Manisha, competing in her second world championship, tried hard to outdo her technically superior opponent with her power punches but Testa defended superbly.
Six-time champion MC Mary Kom, Sarita Devi, Jenny RL and Lekha C are the only Indian women boxers who have won the world titles and now Hyderabad-based Zareen has the opportunity to join the elite list.
BRONZE ! ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ณโs #Parveen bagged ๐ฅ to finish her run at the #IBAWWC2022 in Istanbul ๐น๐ท ! Congratulations, champ!โฆ https://t.co/OMBCJtnJqX
โ Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) 1652878191000
India’s best performance in the event came in 2006 when the country snared eight medals, including four gold, one silver and three bronze.
In the last edition, four Indian boxers returned home with medals – Manju Rani clinched the silver, while Mary Kom bagged an unparalleled eighth world medal in the form of a bronze.