Tonk, August 6: Arundhati Chaudhary, the gold medalist from the Commonwealth Games 2026, received a grand welcome upon returning to her home in Rajasthan. During her visit, she reflected on her struggles. She considers her parents as her inspiration. Despite undergoing hand surgery, Arundhati persevered and brought home the gold for her country. She is the first female boxer from Rajasthan to achieve this feat at the Commonwealth Games.
In the women’s 70-kilogram category, Arundhati secured gold by defeating England’s Chantelle Reed with a unanimous 5-0 decision on August 1.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Arundhati expressed her joy, stating, “Winning this medal brings me immense happiness. I don’t want to stop here. I aim to achieve even more for my country. The support I receive motivates me to improve further. The Olympics are my next goal, a dream I have had since I was 16. I view my parents as my role models. Life is also a sport. My parents have fought through tough circumstances, which is why I look up to them. I have won many international medals for Rajasthan, and I hope the government supports local athletes.”
Arundhati has faced injuries recently but has not given up. She shared, “Last year, I underwent hand surgery, and it felt like I might never box again. However, I have now won my sixth gold. I have been struggling with injuries for a long time. On the day of the final match, I had a fever, but I knew that if I didn’t win that day, I would have to wait four years. I showed courage and won that bout. There were many Indians cheering for me. If I had lost my spirit, they would have shouted ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’.”
In a message to the daughters of the nation, Arundhati said, “First, learn to fight. If you cannot raise your voice for yourself, you cannot do so for anyone else in life. My journey wasn’t easy. However, my parents and family supported me. Society often said that boxing would break my nose or injure my face, making me undesirable for marriage. But my parents said they didn’t raise their daughter for marriage; they wanted her to succeed. Other girls should also insist on their dreams with their families.”
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