Nikhat's Olympic campaign ends with shocking loss to China's Yu

In one of the biggest upsets of the Olympic Games boxing competition, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (50kg) bowed out after a 0-5 loss to Asian Games gold medallist Wu Yu, completely outmanoeuvred by the Chinese in a stunningly lopsided bout here on Thursday.

Nikhat was unseeded for the Games as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is holding the boxing competition, doesn’t recognise the International Boxing Association (IBA), which conducts the world championship.

One of India’s strongest medal contenders, she had been tasked to navigate a nightmarish draw. “Sorry guys,” an emotional Nikhat said after the loss. “It was a learning experience for me. I had not played her before. She was faster.

I will analyse this bout once I am home. I was unseeded and this wasn’t my first match, she was playing her first, it also impacts. It was an intense bout,” she added. “I had worked hard, prepared myself physically and mentally for this Olympics. I will come back strong.”