Asian Games Boxing Victory
Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary defeats Olympic medalist to advance at Asian Games.
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Key Points
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Sakshi Chaudhary moved down from the 54kg division in May and defeated two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen in the national selection-trial semifinals before beating Minakshi Hooda in the final to secure her place on India’s team.
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All five judges scored each of the three rounds 10-9 for Chaudhary, producing a clean 30-27 score on every card.
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The bout was held at Nishio Gymnasium, where Chaudhary’s accurate punches repeatedly troubled Villegas.
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Chaudhary said her Commonwealth Games gold fulfilled a dream and that her “complete focus” had shifted to the Asian Games; she added that representing India gives her the strength and courage to improve with every bout.
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Before the Asian Games, Chaudhary had also won the Commonwealth Games final against England’s Ruby White by a 5-0 decision, extending an unbeaten run in which all of her bouts ended by unanimous decision.
Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary pulled off a major upset at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aira Villegas of the Philippines 5-0. All five judges gave Chaudhary every round, scoring the bout 30-27 on all five cards. She will now face Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova, the reigning 51-kilogram world champion, in the round of 16.
The 51-kilogram bout was held at Nishio Gymnasium, where Chaudhary controlled the fight with her jab, reach, and counterattacks. Villegas grew more aggressive late in the bout, but Chaudhary's accurate punches repeatedly troubled her throughout all three rounds. Chaudhary's victory extends her unbeaten streak—all her recent bouts have ended by unanimous decision.
From Lightweight Division to Asian Games Contender
Chaudhary made a big move this year. She dropped from the 54-kilogram division down to 51 kilograms in May. To earn her spot on India's Asian Games team, she had to beat top rivals in the national selection trials. She defeated two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen in the semifinals, then beat Minakshi Hooda in the final to secure her place.
Commonwealth Games Gold Fueled Asian Games Push
Just before the Asian Games, Chaudhary won the Commonwealth Games final against England's Ruby White with a 5-0 unanimous decision. That gold medal fulfilled a lifelong dream for her. Chaudhary said her complete focus has now shifted entirely to the Asian Games and representing her country gives her the strength and courage to improve with each fight.
Why Villegas Was Favored—And Why Chaudhary Won Anyway
Villegas brought Olympic pedigree to the ring. The Filipino boxer was a bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics. Many expected her experience to give her an edge over Chaudhary. But Chaudhary's height and reach proved decisive. She used her longer arms to set the pace with her jab and land clean counterattacks whenever Villegas tried to close in.
Villegas did try to turn up the pressure in the final rounds, but by then Chaudhary had already won over all five judges. None of the scorecards gave Villegas a single round. The clean 30-27 victory on all five cards showed just how convincingly Chaudhary controlled the bout from start to finish.
A Tougher Test Awaits in the Round of 16
Chaudhary's next opponent is no easy matchup. Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan holds the current world championship in the 51-kilogram division. Balkibekova will be the favorite when they meet in the round of 16. Chaudhary will need to bring the same sharp technique and reach that worked so well against Villegas.
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