Commonwealth Games Boxing: Sakshi and Arundhati Achieve Medal Finishes

Sakshi Chaudhary and Arundhati Choudhary continued India’s remarkable performance in boxing, advancing to their respective semifinals with distinct victories at the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday.

Sakshi (51kg) secured a decisive 5-0 victory over Northern Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers, while Arundhati faced a tougher challenge, winning 3-1 against New Zealand’s Morgan Henderson to clinch at least a bronze medal.

This unanimous decision win positioned Sakshi as the fourth Indian boxer to earn a podium spot at the Games, following Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Jadumani Singh (55kg).

Leveraging her height and reach advantage, the Indian boxer, who has transitioned down from the 54kg weight class, controlled the match from the start, keeping Fryers at a distance with sharp, precise jabs and timely straight punches.

“Her strategy involved fighting up close and clinching often. Mine was to box at long range, which is my strength,” Sakshi shared with PTI after the match.

The Irish competitor attempted to disrupt Sakshi’s rhythm with aggressive tactics, launching multiple punches; however, the Indian maintained her composure, slipping and avoiding most blows before countering with cleaner, more effective combinations.

The match included numerous clinches as both fighters got entangled at close range, even falling to the canvas during one exchange in the second round. Nonetheless, Sakshi kept control of the bout. Despite Fryers’ constant pressure, Sakshi skillfully managed the distance, using her superior footwork and ring awareness to dictate the tempo throughout, securing a comfortable victory.