For three intense days at the selection trials in Patiala, Sakshi Chaudhary fought with relentless determination, knowing her boxing career stood at a crucial crossroads.
The 25-year-old boxer from the renowned Bhiwani Boxing Club entered the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games selection trials burdened by recent setbacks, disappointment, and growing self-doubt. However, she emerged as one of the biggest success stories of the trials after defeating two world champions in back-to-back bouts to clinch her maiden berth for both multi-sport events in the highly competitive 51kg category.
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“My mindset was simple, I just had to get the quota somehow. It was do or die for me,” Sakshi told PTI after completing her remarkable campaign.
Only months earlier, Sakshi’s career appeared to be slipping away from the limelight. At the World Championships last year, she suffered a round-of-16 defeat against Paris Olympic silver medallist Hatice Akbas. The disappointment was compounded by an underwhelming performance at the National Championships, where she failed to secure a podium finish.
Another setback followed when Sakshi, ranked third in the federation’s assessment process, missed out on selection for the Asian Championships in the 54kg category. Fellow Indian boxer Preeti Pawar was selected instead and went on to win gold at the continental event, automatically securing qualification for both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Despite the setbacks, Sakshi refused to give up and delivered a stunning comeback at the Patiala trials, reigniting her career with one of the most impressive performances of the competition.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
