Pabitra Banerjee : Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary delivered a stunning performance, defeating Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aira Villegas of the Philippines by a unanimous 5-0 decision in the women’s 51kg round of 32 at the Asian Games. The major upset on the mat immediately established her as a strong medal contender early in the tournament.
Fighting with remarkable composure at the arena, the 23-year-old Indian pugilist utilized her sharp reflexes and tactical discipline effectively from the opening bell. Sakshi set the tempo early with clean jabs and swift counter-attacks to sweep the first round 5-0 across all judges’ scorecards, putting the experienced Filipino boxer on the back foot.
Tactical Precision Holds Off Villegas Fightback
Though Villegas attempted a fierce comeback in the second round with aggressive combinations, Sakshi countered smartly. She maintained total defensive and offensive control, slipping punches and landing precise blows to take the second round by another identical 5-0 margin. Entering the final three minutes with an unassailable lead, the Indian contender adopted a measured and defensive approach, successfully weathering a desperate late flurry to seal a comprehensive unanimous victory.
Road to the Podium: High-Stakes Clash with Balkibekova Ahead
The sensational win marks a massive statement for Sakshi, who arrived at the continental multi-sport event fresh off impressive gold-medal finishes at both the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the World Boxing Cup. With this major preliminary hurdle safely cleared, she advances directly to the pre-quarterfinals. She is now scheduled to face Kazakhstan’s formidable Alua Balkibekova in a high-stakes round of 16 clash on Thursday, where she will look to carry this winning momentum forward and inch closer to the podium.
