Kota Girl Wins Boxing Gold, Defies Engineering Dream

Arundhati Choudhary has clinched the Commonwealth Games boxing gold medal in the women's 70kg category. She achieved this victory by defeating England's Chantelle Reid via unanimous decision on Saturday. Choudhary's performance was dominant, with judges scoring the bout decisively in her favor.

Originally from Kota, Rajasthan, Choudhary's path to boxing was influenced by her family. While her father, Suresh, recognized her mathematical aptitude and favored an engineering career, her mother, Sunita, championed her daughter's athletic aspirations. This support enabled Choudhary to switch to boxing at 15, overcoming early challenges like the absence of specialized coaches in her city.

Her dedication quickly translated into success, marked by multiple national titles and international tournament wins in countries like Ukraine, Serbia, Ireland, and Montenegro. Choudhary's aggressive nature and determination were evident early on, as she once defended girls' access to water from a senior boy at school.

Her father's initial hesitation stemmed from concerns about navigating the sports world without connections. However, he agreed to support her in individual sports. This led Choudhary to boxing, a sport she embraced with unwavering commitment, training diligently from early mornings to evenings.