India’s boxing contingent enjoyed a memorable campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Sakshi Dhanda emerging as one of the country’s standout performers by clinching the women’s 51kg gold medal.
The Haryana boxer received a rousing welcome upon returning home, where she interacted with the media and reflected on the people who shaped her journey from a young aspiring athlete to a Commonwealth champion.
Speaking about her inspiration, Sakshi revealed, “I started boxing after watching Vijender Singh. He inspired me to take up the sport.” She also acknowledged the role played by Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli in helping her career progress, saying, “Virat Kohli has been my sponsor. He has also supported me a lot throughout my journey.” The boxer added that Kohli’s backing gave her confidence to keep chasing success on the international stage despite the challenges that came her way.
Sakshi also thanked Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra for constantly motivating her. “Neeraj Chopra has always motivated and supported me,” she said, while expressing gratitude to her coaches, family members and everyone who stood by her during difficult phases.
Her remarks quickly went viral on social media, with fans praising Kohli’s contribution to Indian sport beyond cricket. The Commonwealth gold medallist’s heartfelt tribute highlighted how support from established sporting icons, along with the inspiration she drew from Vijender Singh, played a significant role in her rise to the top of the podium.
‘This was a do-or-die situation’: Sakshi Dhanda’s inspiring comeback from injury to Commonwealth Games gold
Sakshi Chaudhary’s rise to the top of Indian boxing has been defined as much by resilience as by talent. Hailing from Dhanana village in Haryana’s Bhiwani district, she trained at the renowned Bhiwani Boxing Club under legendary coach Jagdish Singh before joining the Indian Army as a soldier. The 22-year-old built an outstanding junior career, winning the World Junior Championship in 2015 and two World Youth titles in 2017 and 2018, later adding a medal at the Asian Championships as she successfully transitioned to the senior circuit.However, her journey took a painful turn when a recurring shoulder injury derailed her progress.
The setback forced her out of contention for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the 2023 Asian Games, leaving her on the sidelines during two of the biggest events of the Olympic cycle. Crucially, during this challenging multi-year recovery phase, she received vital corporate sponsorship through the Virat Kohli Foundation, which she credits for keeping her dream alive. Reflecting on that difficult phase, Sakshi admitted, “It was a very challenging time. So, I had to bounce back. I was very hungry… that this time I have to win the quota.”
Determined to make a comeback, Sakshi took the bold decision to drop from her natural 54kg category to the 51kg flyweight division after fellow Army boxer Preeti Pawar secured India’s place in the higher weight class. She lost nearly three kilograms in three weeks and produced remarkable performances at India’s domestic “Group of Death” national selection trials in Patiala. She first stunned two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen with a 4-1 victory in the semi-finals, and then defeated reigning world champion Minakshi Hooda via a flawless 5-0 decision to qualify for the Commonwealth Games. Calling it a defining moment, she said, “This was a do-or-die situation for me. I wanted to go all out because qualifying for the CWG meant everything after losing out previously.”
Her perseverance culminated in a completely dominant, gold-medal-winning campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, sweeping through the tournament without losing a single judge’s scorecard across four consecutive bouts. In the final, she outclassed England’s home-favourite teenager Ruby White with a unanimous 5-0 decision, single-handedly snapping White’s historic 68-match unbeaten streak. This monumental victory anchored India’s historic 10-medal boxing haul, completing a comeback that transformed years of injury, disappointment, and missed opportunities into the biggest triumph of her senior career.