HYDERABAD: After Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen made her way into the record books by clinching a gold medal at the 12th edition of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Turkey, her father Jameel Ahmed hailed the state government for providing financial assistance as well as a plot to the boxer.
Terming the occasion the happiest day of their lives, Ahmed thanked Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) for the gesture. ” I am feeling very happy that our Telangana CM KCR sir has announced two crores rupees cash prize and a plot for residence. I Thank KCR sir,” Jameel Ahmed told ANI.
Apart from cash prize, the government has also allotted residential plots to Nikhath at Banjara Hills/Jubilee Hills.
He also highlighted that the state government, back in 2014, had allocated Rs 50,000 Nikhat, which served as a turning point for the pugilist.
He also appealed to parents to let their children take up sports and bring laurels to the country. “I appeal to people to come forward and getyour children play sports and bring name to Telangana and India. I hope KCR sir will continue to support us and I thank him from the bottom of my heart,” concluded Ahmed.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Wednesday announced a Rs 2 crore cash reward to the recently-crowned world boxing champion Nikhat Zareen.
The Nizamabad-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 R L (2006) and Lekha K C (2006). It was also India’s first gold medal since boxing great Mary Kom won it in 2018. (ANI)