Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen showed her disappointment after she was informed of trials being scratched for 51kg division. MC Mary Kom got a direct berth to represent India in the Tokyo Olympics qualification event early next year.

“All I am asking for is a fair chance (trials) which I was promised by the federation (Boxing Federation of India). 

“Suddenly, everyone is ignoring me. My father spoke to a BFI official today and he said sorry, ‘I can’t help because BFI president (Ajai Singh) has taken the decision’. I was given a guarantee that the selection policy will not be changed,” according to Hindustan Times.

The 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist, Mary Kom, is eyeing another medal having just claimed bronze in the world championships in Russia - her first in 51kg. 

To add to Zarren's frustration, the Russian 51kg world champion Liliya Aetbaeva had even lost to her at the Asian Youth Championships last year. 

The BFI had earlier decided that the finalists at the world championships will be rewarded with a berth in the first Olympic qualification event.

The Indian women’s team returned with one silver among four medals from the world championships. In the Olympic weight categories, Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) won bronze.

On Tuesday, BFI president Singh said the selection rule would be the same for men and women. However, this is the second time in a year, BFI has gone back on its word on the issues related to trials and Zareen has been at the receiving end twice. 

Earlier in August, during the trials for the world championships, BFI selectors exempted Mary Kom on the day of the bout after the draw for 51kg was made. 

Boxing body scrapped trials, Mary Kom picked for World Championships without contest, says Nikhat Zareen

Zareen and her father, Mohammad Jameel Ahmed, who had come from Hyderabad to Delhi, were kept in the dark until the day before the bout when they were informed that the 51kg trial was scrapped and Mary Kom was on board.

“It was so difficult to motivate yourself after what happened,’ said Zareen, according to Hindustan Times.

“I am in the national camp since January, winning medals in international competitions. If you had no intention of sending me I should have been told that there is no space in 51kg, I would not have turned up this year. I would have prepared for the 2024 Olympics, 2022 Asian Games and CWG. After one year you are telling me at the last minute there will be no selection trials in my category. Have some empathy for the athlete.”

The 23-year-old was the first choice in 51kg until Mary Kom shifted from 48 kg. 

The younger boxer has won gold at Standja Memorial, silver at Thailand Open and bronze medal at the Asian Championships. She is in the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme for the Tokyo Olympics.

Mary Kom, however, argued that she beat Zareen at the India Open semi-finals in May. Zareen replied to this saying, “so what, does it mean you will never face me again in the ring? Beat me in trials and go ahead, at least I will have the satisfaction,” according to Hindustan Times.