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Arundhati Choudhary, World Boxing Cup gold medallist, returns to a hero’s welcome in Kota after Commonwealth Games success, eyes Olympics.
Arundhati Choudhary celebrates after winning the women’s 70kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (Picture credit: AP)
World Boxing Cup gold medallist Arundhati Choudhary has said she was surprised by the enthusiasm with which her hometown, Kota, welcomed her back after her gold-medal-winning campaign at the recent Commonwealth Games, adding that it was the first time she had received such a grand welcome.
Arundhati enjoyed a brilliant run at the event, beating world championship bronze medallist Chantelle Reid in the final after overcoming defending champion Rosie Eccles in the semifinals.
An emotional and exhausted Arundhati, who had travelled 250 km from Jaipur to Kota as part of a celebratory road journey, dedicated her medal to her mother Sunita upon returning to her home base.
“I earlier thought such an enthusiastic and supportive environment for sports existed only in Haryana, but now it’s not so; it does exist in Rajasthan also. It’s for the first time that I received such a welcome from the public as well as the government in Rajasthan,” Arundhati said on Thursday.
Speaking to PTI on Friday, Arundhati and her father Suresh Choudhary, who serves as the president of the Kota Boxing Association as well, opened up about a journey marked by physical, financial and social challenges.
“Cutting weight was a persistent difficulty,” Arundhati said.
Looking ahead, Arundhati added that her immediate focus is bagging a berth at the upcoming Olympic Games.
With less than two years remaining until the Los Angeles Games, Arundhati’s immediate focus is bagging a qualification berth at the World Championship, scheduled for next April.
Arundhati spoke about the personal sacrifices her demanding competition schedule requires as well, including adhering to strict dietary restrictions while competing abroad as a vegetarian.
“I enjoyed four chapatis last night and yet wanted to have more,” Arundhati said.
Suresh recounted the struggles that defined his daughter’s rise.
“Boxing requires a proper ring and a professional coach, both of which Arundhati lacked in her early days. She trained on an asphalt surface at the Kota Stadium under a coach who had no background in boxing,” Suresh said.
August 07, 2026, 17:10 IST
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