India find new 51kg hope as Sakshi Chaudhary stuns world champion Minakshi

PATIALA: India may have found its newest contender in the fiercely-competitive women’s 51kg boxing category. Over three sensational days at the selection trials at the NS NIS complex here, Sakshi Chaudhary, the Haryana boxer representing Army, produced a string of statement victories to secure her place in the country’s boxing contingent for the upcoming CWG and Asian Games.The final day of trials opened with another headline bout in the division as Sakshi faced reigning 48kg world champion Minakshi Hooda in a much-anticipated clash between two new entrants in the category. While Minakshi had moved up from 48kg because the division is not part of the CWG and Asiad programme, Sakshi dropped down from her usual 54kg class in pursuit of a national team berth.The latter’s move was also shaped by circumstances. Preeti Pawar had already secured her place in India’s 54kg squad after winning gold at the Asian Championships and was exempted from the trials, forcing Sakshi to rethink her path.On the opening day, Sakshi defeated Tanu before stunning former world champion Nikhat Zareen in a gripping 4-1 split-decision semifinal. On Friday, she capped her impressive run with a commanding 5-0 victory over Minakshi in the final.Relying on sharp left punches, nimble footwork and superior reach, Sakshi consistently stayed ahead against an equally aggressive opponent to punch her ticket to the two multisport events later this year.“This situation was do-or-die for me. I wanted to go all out no matter what,” she told TOI after the bout, “It was important for me to qualify for the CWG and Asiad after losing out on earlier opportunities.”The boxer from Dhanana village in Haryana’s Bhiwani district revealed that shoulder injuries had previously cost her participation at the 2022 Birmingham CWG and 2023 Hangzhou Asiad. “I wanted to bounce back. There was a lot of hunger in me,” she said.Now settled in 51kg, Sakshi believes the category better suits her style. “In 54kg, many girls come down from higher weights, so there is more power and stamina. In 51kg, my height advantage will help me more,” she added.