Sakshi Chaudhary made a strong start to her Asian Games 2026 campaign when she defeated Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aira Villegas of the Philippines in the women’s 51kg category by unanimous 5-0.
Sakshi chaudhary outclasses Paris Olympics🥉 Aira Villegas 🇵🇭 5:0 by unanimous descision in the women's 51 kg prelims. Will face world champion Alua Balkibekova🇰🇿 next in the R16. pic.twitter.com/9K0He6QxM9
— Rambo (@monster_zero123) September 22, 2026
The match took place on Tuesday, September 22, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Sakshi won and sent her into the pre-quarterfinals, and made it a big win against a competitor who had already won an Olympic medal.
Sakshi controlled the contest with her height and reach advantage and used her jab effectively to keep Villegas at distance. All five judges awarded the Indian boxer a 5-0 decision, underlining her control throughout the three-round fight.
Sakshi Controls The Fight From The Start
Sakshi began in the red corner aggressively and tried to establish her range early.
Her jab was particularly effective in the opening round as she kept Villegas from getting into a comfortable attacking position. The Indian boxer took the first round 5-0 on the judges' scorecards.
Villegas tried to increase the pressure in the second round, but Sakshi responded with clean counterattacks and continued to use her reach effectively.
The Indian boxer again took the round 5-0, leaving Villegas with a big deficit heading into the final round.
Sakshi took a more measured approach in the final round and picked her moments to attack. Villegas landed a strong left hook, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
All five judges eventually awarded Sakshi the victory and a score of 5-0.
From 54kg to 51kg, Sakshi makes an Impact
The win continues Sakshi's rapid rise in the 51kg division.
The Indian boxer moved down from 54kg earlier this year and won her place in the Asian Games team after winning the national selection trial. She had defeated two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen during the trial process.
Sakshi also arrived in Japan with strong recent form. She won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026 and has also won a World Boxing Cup gold medal. She is a former junior and youth world champion.
The Asian Games, however, are a new challenge for the 23-year-old who is making her debut at the continental multi-sport event.
The victory over Villegas is especially significant because the Filipino boxer came to the fight as a Paris Olympics bronze medallist. Sakshi's ability to control the fight against an opponent with Olympic-level experience gives her campaign an encouraging start.
Sakshi faces Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova Next
Sakshi's Asian Games campaign will continue in the women's 51kg pre-quarterfinals.
She will face Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkibekova in the round of 16 on Thursday, September 24.
The draw had already sent Sakshi on a demanding path, with Villegas waiting in her first match. So her next opponent will be another significant test as she struggles to get deeper into the tournament.
The women's 51kg competition will continue through the knockout stages with the semifinals on September 30 and the final on October 2.
Sakshi will now focus on the pre-quarterfinal against Balkibekova. Her 5-0 win against Villegas has already taken her to the next stage, but the tournament is in that phase in which every match becomes more and more important.
Sakshi will now look to carry her momentum into the next stage of her Asian Games debut with a Commonwealth Games gold already secured this year.
