Sakshi Chaudhary wins 51kg India berth for CWG, Asiad after stunning Meenakshi
Synopsis
Two of India's biggest boxing names — Nikhat Zareen and Meenakshi Hooda — crashed out of the 51kg national trials, and a relative newcomer, Sakshi Chaudhary, walked away with berths for both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. It is a rare generational reset in a weight class India has long dominated, and it happened in a single afternoon at NIS Patiala.
Key Takeaways
Sakshi Chaudhary won the 51kg final at the national boxing trials at NIS Patiala on 15 May , earning selection for both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games .
She defeated reigning world and Asian champion Meenakshi Hooda in the final, and two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen in the semifinal.
Sakshi had previously won gold in the 54kg category at the 2025 World Boxing Cup in Astana before dropping to 51kg for the trials.
The finalist runner-up earns selection for the World Boxing Cup in Guiyang, China from 15 to 20 June .
Sachin Siwach , Preeti Pawar , and Priya Ghanghas had already qualified for both events via the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar.
The Commonwealth Games run from 23 July to 2 August in Glasgow; the Asian Games from 19 September to 4 October in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Sakshi Chaudhary capped a stunning run at the national boxing trials in Patiala on Friday, 15 May, defeating reigning world and Asian champion Meenakshi Hooda in the 51kg final at NIS Patiala to earn selection for both the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The victory confirmed India will field a fresh face in the 51kg category after two of its biggest names were eliminated before the final.
How Sakshi Made It to the Final
Sakshi's path to the final was equally dramatic. In the semifinal, she defeated Nikhat Zareen — a two-time world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist — in one of the biggest upsets of the trials. Nikhat had been forced into the trials after failing to secure a direct entry at last month's Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where she reached the semifinals but lost 0-5 to China's Wu Yu, the reigning Olympic gold medallist.
On the other side of the draw, Meenakshi Hooda — who ordinarily competes at 48kg — moved up a division and knocked out former world champion Neetu Ghanghas before meeting Sakshi in the final. Notably, Sakshi herself dropped down from 54kg, where she had won gold at the 2025 World Boxing Cup in Astana, to compete in the 51kg trials.
What the Result Means for Indian Boxing
The 51kg category will now be represented by a new face at both quadrennial events, with established stars Nikhat and Meenakshi missing out on those slots. Under the trials format, the finalist who loses the final earns selection for the World Boxing Cup in Guiyang, China, scheduled from 15 to 20 June, while the winner secures quotas for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
This is a significant generational shift for Indian women's boxing in a weight class that has historically been among the country's strongest. The 51kg bracket, once dominated by household names, will head into two of the sport's most prestigious multi-sport events with a relatively unheralded champion.
Other Indian Qualifiers
Several other boxers have already secured their places for the quadrennial events. Sachin Siwach (men's 60kg), Preeti Pawar (women's 54kg), and Priya Ghanghas (women's 60kg) qualified for both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games after reaching the finals of the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar.
Jaismine Lamboria (women's 57kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (women's 70kg) secured Commonwealth Games berths only, as their weight categories are not part of the Asian Games programme.
Event Schedule
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August, followed by the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October. India's boxing contingent will be expected to challenge for medals across multiple categories at both events.
Point of View
Which forces even decorated champions to prove form, is working as intended — but it also means India heads into two major quadrennial events in a marquee weight class without its most recognised names. Whether Sakshi Chaudhary can convert trial-level form into medals on the global stage is the question that will define this selection cycle.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sakshi Chaudhary and why is her selection significant?
Sakshi Chaudhary is an Indian boxer who won gold in the 54kg category at the 2025 World Boxing Cup in Astana. Her selection is significant because she defeated two marquee names — Nikhat Zareen and Meenakshi Hooda — in a single trials tournament to earn India's 51kg berths for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Why was Nikhat Zareen competing in the national trials?
Nikhat Zareen was required to participate in the national trials after she failed to secure a direct entry at the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She reached the semifinals there but lost 0-5 to China's Wu Yu, the reigning Olympic gold medallist.
What does the runner-up of the 51kg final earn?
The boxer who loses the 51kg final earns selection for the World Boxing Cup in Guiyang, China, scheduled from 15 to 20 June, while the winner — Sakshi Chaudhary — secures quotas for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Which other Indian boxers have qualified for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games?
Sachin Siwach (men's 60kg), Preeti Pawar (women's 54kg), and Priya Ghanghas (women's 60kg) qualified for both events via the Asian Championships. Jaismine Lamboria (women's 57kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (women's 70kg) earned Commonwealth Games berths only, as their categories are not on the Asian Games programme.
When and where are the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games being held?
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August. The Asian Games follow in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October.
