New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Nikhat Zareen on clinching gold at the 12th edition of the IBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Istanbul.

PM Modi also lauded Manisha Moun and Parveen Hooda for their bronze medals as India concluded the World Championships campaign with three medals against their name.

"Our boxers have made us proud! Congratulations to @nikhat_zareen for a fantastic Gold medal win at the Women's World Boxing Championship. I also congratulate Manisha Moun and Parveen Hooda for their Bronze medals in the same competition," PM Modi tweeted.

Our boxers have made us proud! Congratulations to @nikhat_zareen for a fantastic Gold medal win at the Women's World Boxing Championship. I also congratulate Manisha Moun and Parveen Hooda for their Bronze medals in the same competition. pic.twitter.com/dP7p59zQoS

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 19, 2022

Minister for law and Justice Kiren Rijiju  also congratulated Nikhat for her gold medal and also posted their picture on Twitter:

Congratulations @nikhat_zareen on becoming the only 5th Indian woman boxer to win GOLD MEDAL at World Championship!

She won the very prestigious World Championship GOLD at Istanbul in Turkey.
We are extremely proud of your huge achievement for India🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/qVFp2NkZbM

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 19, 2022

Veteran sports journalist Nohanathan Selvaraj associated with Sports Star has said it is for the first time in nearly a decade and a half that a boxing world champion is not named Mary Kom:

For the first time in nearly a decade and a half 🇮🇳 has a boxing world champion not named Mary Kom. Instead it's Nizamabad's Nikhat Zareen who joins that very exclusive club. pic.twitter.com/EgGEGB0bh7

— jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) May 19, 2022

Boxer Nikhat registered a dominating 5-0 victory in the final. Living up to the expectations, Nikhat thrashed Thailand's Jitpong Jutamas without breaking a sweat in the 52kg final with judges scoring the bout 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 29-28 in the Indian's favour.

The Nizamabad (Telangana)-born boxer became the only fifth Indian woman to secure a gold medal at the World Boxing Championships after record six-time champion Mary Kom (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018), Sarita Devi (2006), Jenny RL (2006) and Lekha KC (2006).

It was also India's first gold medal since boxing great Mary Kom won it in 2018.

With Manisha (57kg) and Parveen (63kg) signing off with bronze medals after their semi-finals finish, Indian contingent concluded its campaign with three medals at the world's biggest boxing event, which witnessed exciting competition in presence of record 310 boxers from 73 countries and also marked the 20th anniversary of the Women's World Championships.

Also Read: India’s Nikhat Zareen is Boxing world champion

Out of 12 participating Indian boxers, eight made it to the quarter-finals in this year's tournament--the joint highest alongside Turkey.

With the addition of three medals in Istanbul, India's overall medal tally has gone up to 39, including 10 gold, eight silver and 21 bronze, in the 12 editions of the prestigious event--third highest after Russia (60) and China (50).