Days after scripting history with a gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary has revealed the role former India captain Virat Kohli played in her journey to the top.The Haryana boxer, who clinched gold in the women’s 51kg (Flyweight) event in Glasgow, said Kohli supported her through the Virat Kohli Foundation during a crucial phase of her career and credited him for helping her stay focused.Speaking to IANS, Sakshi thanked Kohli for backing her, saying the cricket icon’s support extended beyond sponsorship.“I started boxing after watching Vijender Singh, but in my journey, Virat Kohli has also supported me a lot. He has been my sponsor. So I would like to thank him too,” Chaudhary said.She added that Kohli also motivated her with simple advice, encouraging her to stay calm, avoid taking pressure and focus only on performing inside the ring.Sakshi’s triumph in Glasgow capped a remarkable comeback. Having missed the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Asian Games due to injury, she made the calculated decision to drop from the 54kg category to 51kg, a gamble that ultimately earned her the biggest medal of her career.The Indian Army boxer defeated England’s Ruby White by a unanimous 5-0 decision in the final to claim the gold medal.Sakshi was one of the standout performers in India’s historic boxing campaign, which produced 10 medals, including a record seven golds. Alongside her, world champion Jaismine Lamboria, Preeti Pawar (54kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg) and Ankush Panghal (80kg) finished on top of the podium, while Lovlina Borgohain, Jadumani Singh and Narender Berwal added silver medals.No nation has won more boxing gold medals than India’s tally of seven at a single edition of the Commonwealth Games.
