Arundhati Choudhary Celebrated as India Returns from Historic Commonwealth Games
A Hero's Welcome for India's Boxing Stars
New Delhi, August 4: Arundhati Choudhary, the gold medalist from the Commonwealth Games, was warmly welcomed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday as the Indian boxing team returned home following a record-setting performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow.
The champion in the women's 70kg category expressed that the enthusiastic reception from supporters has fueled her motivation as she prepares for the upcoming World Cup later this year. She emphasized that every athlete aspires to win an Olympic medal.
Upon her arrival in Delhi, Arundhati shared, “We feel fantastic, and the reception is even more uplifting. I hope India continues to support us like this. The Olympics is the ultimate goal for every athlete. My immediate focus is on the World Cup in November. Hearing about India inspires us to excel further.”
Arundhati was among several Indian gold medalists, including Jaismine Lamboria, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas, and Preeti Pawar, who were welcomed by family, coaches, and fans upon their return from Glasgow.
In the women's 70kg final, the Haryana boxer showcased her skills by defeating England's Chantelle Reid with a unanimous 5-0 decision, contributing to India's impressive tally of seven boxing gold medals at the Games.
India made history by achieving the best boxing performance ever recorded by any nation in Commonwealth Games history, finishing at the top of the medal table with seven gold and three silver medals. This achievement surpassed the previous record of six boxing golds held jointly by England (1934 and 2018) and Canada (1986).
In addition to Arundhati, gold medals were secured by Sachin Siwach, Jaismine Lamboria, Preeti Pawar, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas, and Ankush Panghal. Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain, Narender Berwal, and Jadumani Singh contributed silver medals to the historic tally.
Ankush Panghal clinched India's seventh gold with a 4-1 split-decision win over England's Dimeji Shittu in the men's 80kg final, while Sachin Siwach came from behind to defeat Namibia's Tryagain Morning Ndevelo in the men's 60kg title match.
In the women's competitions, reigning world champion Jaismine Lamboria dominated Northern Ireland's defending champion Michaela Walsh with a 5-0 victory in the 57kg final.
Preeti Pawar triumphed with a 5-0 win against Canada's Scarlett Delgado in the women's 54kg final, while Sakshi Chaudhary defeated England's Ruby White 5-0 in the 51kg final. Priya Ghanghas also secured the women's 60kg title with a 4-1 victory over Canada's Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh.
Among the silver medalists, Narender Berwal was the runner-up in the men's 90+kg category after a loss to England's Damar Thomas. Lovlina Borgohain earned silver in the women's 75kg final after a close defeat to Australia's Emma-Sue Greentree, while Jadumani Singh also took silver in the men's 55kg category after losing to Australia's Jye Dixon.
India's remarkable performance in Glasgow has solidified its reputation as a powerhouse in Commonwealth boxing, marking the nation's most successful campaign in the sport to date.