Arundhati Choudhary Aims for Gold After Semifinal Victory at CWG 2026

Arundhati Choudhary has advanced to the semifinals in the women's 70kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026, defeating New Zealand's Morgan Henderson. With her sights set on gold, she dedicated her victory to her younger brother and expressed confidence in her training. Meanwhile, coach Khimanand Belwal aims for more wins as the team prepares for upcoming bouts. Additionally, Sakshi Chaudhary secured her place in the women's 51kg semifinals with a dominant performance. India's overall medal tally stands at 12, showcasing a strong campaign in Glasgow.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 29, 2026, 19:08 IST

Arundhati Choudhary Secures Semifinal Spot

Indian boxer Arundhati Choudhary expressed her joy after advancing to the semifinals in the women's 70kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She achieved this milestone by defeating New Zealand's Morgan Henderson in a quarterfinal match on Wednesday, setting her sights on winning a gold medal. Arundhati showcased a steady performance in a tightly contested bout, narrowly winning the first round 3-2 and gaining momentum in the second round. Despite Henderson's aggressive tactics, the Indian boxer maintained her composure, utilizing her movement and effective punches to clinch the third round with a 3-1 split decision, as reported by ESPN. This victory guarantees Arundhati a medal as she prepares for the semifinals, with hopes of reaching the gold medal match.

Dedication and Determination

In an interview, Arundhati dedicated her win to her younger brother, expressing satisfaction with her performance despite the challenges faced. She emphasized that the ultimate goal for her team is to secure gold, attributing her success to hard work and self-belief. "It feels amazing. I dedicate this victory to my younger brother. Today was tough, but the outcome was positive. We are here to win gold; this is just a step. I have put in a lot of effort, and I was confident that I would win every bout I participated in," she stated.

Coach's Aspirations for More Medals

Arundhati's coach, Khimanand Belwal, expressed optimism about the team's prospects in the upcoming matches, aiming for multiple victories. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but remained focused on achieving gold medals. "We have the semifinals coming up, and there are more bouts for the men's team as well. We hope to secure wins across the board and bring home all the medals. Our goal is to clinch gold medals, and we are well-prepared, although the competition will be fierce," he remarked.

Sakshi Chaudhary's Impressive Quarterfinal Win

Earlier on the same day, Sakshi Chaudhary advanced to the women's 51kg semifinals after a commanding unanimous 5-0 victory over Northern Ireland's Caitlyn Fryers in the quarterfinals, ensuring India another medal. Sakshi, who returned to the 51kg category in excellent form, dominated the match, winning all three rounds with identical 5-0 scores, applying pressure on Fryers with her movement and precise punches, according to ESPN. She is set to face Canada's Amber-Jane Wall in the semifinal on Friday for a chance to compete for gold.

India's Medal Count at CWG 2026

India has had a successful outing in Glasgow, accumulating a total of 12 medals thus far, which includes two gold, seven silver, and three bronze. The medalists include Mirabai Chanu (gold in weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold in women's shot put F57), Rishikanta Singh (silver in weightlifting), Muthupandi Raja (silver in weightlifting), Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver in weightlifting), Sarvesh Kushare (silver in men's high jump), Gulveer Singh (silver in men's 10,000m), Harjinder Kaur (silver in weightlifting), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver in weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze in weightlifting), Shilpa K. Shyla (bronze in women's shot put F57), and Jhandu Kumar (bronze in para powerlifting).