After years of heartbreaks, Sakshi Chaudhary finally gears up for CWG, Asian Games

For years, Sakshi Chaudhary lived with the feeling that she was always one step away. She had conquered junior and youth boxing, winning world titles and earning the reputation of being one of India’s brightest prospects. Yet, whenever the senior stage demanded that one defining performance, something seemed to go wrong.

A narrow defeat, an untimely injury, a missed selection, or simply someone else peaking at the right time.

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However, in May this year, all those disappointments finally gave way to one unforgettable moment. The 25-year-old boxer from Dhanana village in Haryana’s Bhiwani district booked her place in India’s squads for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games by topping the women’s 51kg category at the national selection trials.

More importantly, she defeated two of the country’s biggest names in two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen and reigning 48kg world champion Minakshi Hooda, on consecutive days to earn her place.

For Sakshi, it was far more than two victories. It was redemption.

Ask her about her journey and she doesn’t hesitate. ”It has been a roller-coaster ride,” she tells The Statesman.

Her story has been built as much on heartbreak as on success.

The daughter of a farmer and a homemaker, Sakshi has never lacked talent. She is a former junior world champion and a two-time youth world champion. But translating that promise into
consistent success at the senior level proved far more difficult than anyone expected.

There were glimpses of what she could become when she returned with a bronze medal at the 2021 Asian Championships and a gold medal at last year’s Boxing World Cup in New Delhi but the biggest opportunities always slipped away.

A few years back, she narrowly missed qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics after falling one bout short at the Asian Olympic qualifiers. A shoulder muscle tear in 2022 ruled her out of the National Championships, which meant she missed selection for both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Watching others go on to win medals and even Olympic quotas while she remained on the sidelines only made the wait harder.

This year seemed no different. In January 2026, she lost in the quarterfinals of the National Championships and didn’t even finish on the podium. Since only medallists were to be called to the national camp, her season looked over before it had truly begun.

Then came an unexpected lifeline after the Indian Army Havaldar was included in the camp as a wildcard.

Even then, another challenge awaited. Sakshi had spent most of her career boxing in the 54kg category, but with Preeti Pawar firmly established as India’s No. 1, she shifted down to 51kg.

At first, it felt like another setback but as she looks back, she felt that it was a blessing in disguise.

Against Nikhat Zareen, Sakshi used her height and reach brilliantly, refusing to allow the former world champion to settle. Less than 24 hours later, she repeated the performance against Minakshi Hooda to finish on top of the trials. Those victories didn’t come by chance.

After last year’s World Cup triumph, Sakshi realised the battle was no longer only physical. She began working with a sports psychologist, adding meditation, breathing exercises and visualisation to her daily routine. The difference showed inside the ring.

“I have always felt that way. I have been boxing for more than a decade, but always missed out on the major international tournaments due to multiple reasons, be it losses in trials, injuries, and so on. But there has been no lack of dedication or hard work on my part,” she opened up.

“Despite all those my family have stood like a rock, and backed me through all ups and downs. They have never stopped believing in me, and continued to motivate me during the most difficult phases.

“However, during that phase, I also realised one thing, that it was not only the physical battle that I had to overcome. It was the mental battle, which equally is crucial, and for that I began working with a sports psychologist, took the scientific ways to overcome those issues. Today, I can say, it definitely worked,” she said.

A product of the famous Bhiwani Boxing Club under veteran coach Jagdish Singh, Sakshi, however, believes that the work is half done as she gears up for the 2026 Commonwealth Games this month, and the Asian Games, later this year.

“Definitely, there were goosebumps wearing the India jersey, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to represent my country in the major international competitions this year. Like every athlete, the ultimate goal certainly is an Olympic gold but I have to be realistic, and stay within the process, and focus on the immediate goal of winning medals for India at the CWG and Asian Games, this year,” she quipped.