Asian Games 2026: Sakshi Chaudhary Defeats Olympic Medallist 5-0 to Enter Pre-Quarterfinals

Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary produced a strong performance in her opening bout at the Asian Games, defeating Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aira Villegas of the Philippines 5-0 in the women's 51kg Round of 32 on Tuesday.

The unanimous-decision victory at Nishio Gymnasium in Japan sent Sakshi into the pre-quarterfinals, where she will face Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova, the reigning 51kg world champion, on Thursday.

Sakshi Chaudhary Dominates Aira Villegas

Sakshi controlled the contest with her jab, movement and reach from the opening round. All five judges awarded her the round, giving her a 10-9 score.

Villegas tried to increase the pressure in the second round, but Sakshi responded with clean counter-punches and maintained her advantage. The Indian boxer again won the round unanimously.

In the final round, Sakshi managed her lead effectively while continuing to land accurate punches. Villegas connected with a strong left hook, but it was not enough to change the outcome as Sakshi completed a 5-0 unanimous victory.

Sakshi Advances to Women's 51kg Pre-Quarterfinals

The win takes Sakshi into the women's 51kg pre-quarterfinals at the Asian Games.

Her next opponent will be Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan, the current world champion in the 51kg category. The bout is scheduled for Thursday.

Balkibekova represents a significant challenge for Sakshi as she continues her campaign in the Asian Games boxing competition.

From 54kg to 51kg

Sakshi moved down from the 54kg category to 51kg earlier this year.

During the selection trials for the Commonwealth Games, she defeated two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen before overcoming Minakshi Hooda in the final to secure her place in the Indian team.

The move to 51kg has since produced notable results for the Indian boxer.

Sakshi Comes Off Commonwealth Games Gold

Sakshi entered the Asian Games after a successful Commonwealth Games campaign.

She won the women's 51kg gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, defeating England's Ruby White 5-0 in the final. She also has a World Boxing Cup gold medal to her name.

Her victory over Villegas gives her another significant result against an established international opponent.

Sakshi's Height and Reach Prove Effective

Against Villegas, Sakshi effectively used her height and reach to keep the Filipino boxer at a distance.

Her jab helped her control the opening exchanges, while her movement made it difficult for Villegas to consistently close the distance. When Villegas attempted to attack more aggressively, Sakshi responded with counter-punches and clean combinations.

All five judges ultimately scored all three rounds in Sakshi's favour, underlining the unanimous nature of the result.

What Comes Next for Sakshi?

Sakshi's next bout against Alua Balkibekova will determine whether she advances to the quarterfinal stage of the Asian Games women's 51kg competition.

After winning Commonwealth Games gold and now defeating an Olympic bronze medallist, Sakshi has opened her Asian Games campaign with a unanimous victory. Her next contest will be against the reigning 51kg world champion.

Key takeaway: Sakshi Chaudhary defeated Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aira Villegas 5-0 to advance to the women's 51kg pre-quarterfinals at the Asian Games 2026. She will next face Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova.