India, Sept. 2 -- A little over a year back, Nikhat Zareen entered the ring at Arena Paris Nord as one of India's bright medal hopes, only to be outclassed by Chinese top-seed Wu Yu by unanimous decision. The result not only brought her Olympic campaign to an early end, but also left her with mental scars that sent her into a month-long lockdown. She found succour in binge eating, binge watching, and scrolling countless Instagram reels with little purpose.

"It was a proper heartbreak," she smiles. "I ate stuff I had long given up. I barely stepped out of my room. I didn't train. For three months, I was a wreck."

With boxing's Olympic future still uncertain, Nikhat had nothing much to look forward to. In the middle of her turmoil, she wa...