Kota, Aug. 3 -- Rajasthan's Arundhati Choudhary won a gold medal in the women's 70kg boxing event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday. The Kota boxer defeated England's Chantal Reid in a one-sided final, earning India a gold medal and adding another milestone to her growing international career. The 23-year-old dominated the title bout to register a convincing 5-0 victory. Celebrations erupted at her home in Kota, where family members exchanged sweets as news of her triumph came in. Speaking after the victory, Arundhati said winning the Commonwealth gold was the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream. She said she had worked tirelessly to reach the top and refused to give up despite falling ill before the final. "When the Indian national anthem played during the medal ceremony, I had tears in my eyes. It made me realise how proud I had made my country," she said, while also thanking her family for their unwavering support throughout her journey. Her elder sister, Dr Charulata Choudhary, revealed that Arundhati had been battling a 102-degree fever ahead of the final and was feeling physically weak. Despite her condition, she continued training and remained determined to compete. "We spoke to her before the bout and encouraged her to stay confident. She showed tremendous courage and went on to win the final 5-0. We are extremely proud of her," Charulata said, adding that congratulatory calls have been pouring in from across the country and the family is eagerly awaiting Arundhati's return to Kota. Arundhati's coach, Ashok Gautam, credited her success to years of discipline and hard work. He said she competed in the 60kg category until 2021, moved to the senior circuit in 2022, and shifted to the 70kg division in 2024, successfully overcoming the challenges of the new weight class. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also congratulated Choudhary on her historic victory. Birla said he had known Arundhati and her family for years and recalled that she had been deeply committed to the sport since childhood. "Today, she has made Kota, Rajasthan and the entire country proud on the global stage. Her achievement is an inspiration for aspiring athletes in India," he said....