Commonwealth Games 2026: Arundhati Choudhary Upsets Defending Champion Rosie Eccles to Reach Women's 70kg Boxing Final

India's remarkable run in boxing at the Commonwealth Games 2026 continued as Arundhati Choudhary produced a gritty and fearless performance to defeat defending champion Rosie Eccles of Wales and book her place in the women's 70kg final in Glasgow.

The Indian prevailed 4-0 by split decision after a bruising three-round contest that was filled with fierce exchanges, standing counts, physical confrontations and plenty of drama. The victory guarantees Arundhati at least a silver medal and sets up a gold medal clash against England's Chantelle Reid.

Facing one of the most experienced boxers in the competition and backed by a vocal crowd, Arundhati refused to be intimidated, gradually taking control of the contest through disciplined counter-attacking and relentless determination.

The semifinal began exactly as expected, with Rosie Eccles looking to impose herself early. The Welsh boxer, defending her Commonwealth Games title, came out aggressively, throwing combinations from the opening seconds and forcing Arundhati onto the back foot. Eccles' speed and movement initially troubled the Indian, with several quick jabs finding their target.

At one stage, Arundhati appeared close to being overwhelmed as Eccles landed a heavy sequence of punches that briefly rocked the Indian.

The intensity of the exchanges resulted in both boxers sustaining cuts, with Arundhati bleeding from the mouth while Eccles also emerged with facial injuries after a series of late exchanges. Just before the bell, however, the momentum shifted dramatically.

Arundhati landed a clean scoring combination that forced the referee to administer a standing count against the defending champion. The late surge proved decisive.

Despite Eccles appearing to dominate much of the opening round, the judges unanimously awarded it to the Indian, giving Arundhati a surprise 5-0 advantage after the first three minutes.

Knowing she trailed on every scorecard, Eccles increased the intensity in the second round. The Welsh boxer received loud support from the home crowd as she continued pressing forward in search of heavy punches. But Arundhati had found her rhythm.

The Indian began timing her counters perfectly, repeatedly punishing Eccles whenever she overcommitted during attacks. Rather than matching the Welsh boxer punch for punch, Arundhati relied on intelligent movement and accurate counter-punching. Her cleaner connections consistently caught the judges' attention.

As the round progressed, the contest became increasingly physical. Both boxers refused to give ground, engaging in several close-range exchanges where punches rained in from both sides. At one point, Arundhati smiled at her opponent after absorbing pressure before immediately responding with a perfectly timed punch that landed flush on Eccles' face.

The Welsh boxer continued attacking, but many of her combinations failed to connect cleanly. When the round ended, all five judges once again ruled in favour of Arundhati, leaving the defending champion with an enormous task heading into the final round.

The deciding round quickly descended into one of the most physical contests of the boxing tournament. Frustration appeared to get the better of Eccles, who pushed Arundhati to the canvas during one exchange. The incident only seemed to motivate the Indian further.

Arundhati responded by increasing her movement around the ring, frustrating Eccles as she repeatedly slipped away from attacks before landing accurate counters. The physical nature of the contest continued as the two boxers collided repeatedly in close quarters. On one occasion, Arundhati returned the favour by pushing the Welsh boxer to the canvas.

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Neither competitor was willing to back down. The closing minute developed into a fierce exchange of punches as both athletes targeted the head and body in pursuit of a decisive finish. Despite Eccles' desperate attempts to overturn the deficit, Arundhati remained composed, matching every attack with disciplined defence and effective counter-punching.

When the final bell sounded, the Indian looked confident that she had done enough.

The announcement of the result was met with loud boos from sections of the crowd, many of whom had hoped to see the defending champion advance. The judges, however, had no doubts. Arundhati Choudhary was declared the winner by a 4-0 split decision, confirming one of the biggest victories of her career.

The crowd's reaction did little to affect the Indian, who celebrated calmly after securing her place in the Commonwealth Games final. The result reflected her superior accuracy, tactical discipline and ability to finish each round strongly despite facing one of the tournament's most accomplished opponents.

With the semifinal victory secured, Arundhati will now face England's Chantelle Reid in the women's 70kg gold medal bout. The Indian enters the final with growing confidence after defeating the defending Commonwealth champion in convincing fashion. Her performances throughout the tournament have demonstrated impressive maturity, particularly her ability to remain composed under sustained pressure.

Against Eccles, she absorbed early attacks before gradually imposing her own style on the contest.

That adaptability could prove equally important in the championship bout. Arundhati's success further strengthens India's exceptional boxing campaign at the Commonwealth Games. Earlier in the day, Preeti Pawar, Ankush Panghal, and Jaismine Lamboria also booked places in their respective finals, ensuring multiple opportunities for India to challenge for gold medals.

The performances highlight the depth of Indian boxing across both the men's and women's categories, with experienced campaigners and emerging talents alike producing high-quality displays on the international stage.

For Arundhati Choudhary, the victory over Rosie Eccles represents far more than a place in the final. It is proof that she can compete with and defeat the very best in the Commonwealth. Standing between her and the biggest title of her career is one final challenge against Chantelle Reid. If she can reproduce the resilience, tactical intelligence and fighting spirit shown in the semifinal, another Commonwealth Games gold could soon be heading India's way.