Kota's rebel daughter chose Olympic dreams over IITs. Now Arundhati Choudhary is a Commonwealth champion

Arundhati Choudhary won the women's 70kg boxing final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, defeating world bronze medallist Chantelle Reid.

Choudhary gave up preparing for IIT entrance exams in Kota to pursue boxing, aiming to become the first Indian woman to win an Olympic gold.

Her father, Suresh Choudhary, a businessman, initially doubted her commitment but supported her switch from basketball to boxing.

India's boxing team achieved its best-ever Commonwealth Games performance, winning seven golds and three silvers, the most by any nation in the sport's history at the Games.