Sakshi defeated Northern Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers convincingly with a unanimous 5-0 decision in the women’s 51kg quarterfinal, while Arundhati faced a tougher challenge, edging past New Zealand’s Morgan Henderson with a 3-1 score in her matchup.
These victories propelled India’s boxing campaign forward, with both athletes now just one match away from a chance at Commonwealth Games gold.
| India’s assured boxing medallists | ||
| Boxer | Weight Category | Status |
| Lovlina Borgohain | 75kg | Assured medal |
| Priya Ghanghas | 60kg | Assured medal |
| Preeti Pawar | 54kg | Assured medal |
| Jadumani Singh | 55kg | Assured medal |
| Sakshi Chaudhary | 51kg | Assured medal |
| Arundhati Choudhary | 70kg | Assured medal |
Sakshi also became the fifth Indian boxer to earn a medal at the Games, joining Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Jadumani Singh (55kg) on the podium.
Leveraging her height and reach advantage, Sakshi dominated the fight from the start. Moving down from the 54kg category, she kept Fryers at bay with precise jabs, strong straight punches, and smart movement around the ring.
Fryers attempted to disrupt Sakshi’s game plan with aggressive tactics, throwing numerous punches and forcing clinches. However, Sakshi maintained her composure, evading most attacks and landing cleaner, more effective combinations.
The action became somewhat chaotic in the second round when both competitors lost their balance during a clinch and fell to the canvas. Nevertheless, Sakshi did not allow this interruption to hinder her performance.
With excellent footwork and ring awareness, she skillfully managed the distance and controlled the pace throughout all three rounds, earning a decisive unanimous decision victory.
On the other hand, Arundhati faced a more challenging test against Henderson. She fought through a closely contested match, ultimately winning by a 3-1 split decision to secure her semifinal spot.
With both athletes now guaranteed at least bronze, India has solidified its standing in the boxing competition, a sport that has consistently added to the country’s medal tally at the Commonwealth Games. The attention now turns to the semifinals, where Sakshi and Arundhati aim to turn their assured podium finishes into gold medal opportunities.
First Published: Jul 29, 2026 6:44 PM IST
