'Virat Kohli has been my sponsor': 2026 CWG boxing gold medalist Sakshi Dhanda credits India star for support

‘Virat Kohli has been my sponsor’: 2026 CWG boxing gold medalist Sakshi Dhanda credits India star for support originally appeared on Cricket News.
Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• India‘s Sakshi Chaudhary Dhanda won the gold medal in the 51 kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
• The boxer credited Virat Kohli alongside Vijender Singh as her sponsor and role model throughout the journey.
• The Virat Kohli Foundation helped Sakshi for the last three years during her crucial years.

Sakshi Chaudhary thanks Virat Kohli after winning Commonwealth Games 2026 boxing gold

Indian boxers were absolutely dominant at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. With seven golds and three silvers, this was the most medals in the sport won at the event by any single nation. In fact, in the women’s division. India won five out of the six gold medals available.

Sakshi Chaudhary Dhanda was one of those five with the Bhiwani, Haryana, native, winning the gold in the 51 kg category after defeating England’s Ruby White. She completely outclassed her opponent and marked a remarkable comeback for a fighter whose career had once been derailed by a serious shoulder injury.

The boxer from Bhiwani in Haryana had to drop a weight category and beat a string of established names, including world champion Nikhat Zareen, just to make the India squad. That backdrop made her podium finish at the 2026 Commonwealth Games all the more satisfying, and she was quick to acknowledge the support that helped her get there.

Why Sakshi Chaudhary credited Virat Kohli after her CWG 2026 gold

Despite her emphatic win, Sakshi remained humble and was quick to praise former Indian boxer and Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh as her inspiration and idol. She also was quick to acknowledge Kohli’s role in her journey.

She told IANS, “Virat Kohli has also supported me a lot throughout my journey. He has been my sponsor, and I would like to thank him as well. ” While some might be confused about their connection, those who have followed Kohli over the years know that the Run Machine has run the Virat Kohli Foundation since 2013 to help Indian sportspersons in their journey for greatness.

Bhiwani, Haryana: Commonwealth Games 51 kg gold medallist boxer Sakshi Dhanda says, “I started boxing after watching Vijender Singh. Virat Kohli has also supported me a lot throughout my journey. He has been my sponsor, and I would like to thank him as well” pic.twitter.com/N4jwW29zAB

— IANS (@ians_india) August 6, 2026

Both Sakshi Chaudhary and her father Manoj have credited Kohli for helping support her career for a stretch of three years when the boxer struggled financially. She also credited the ICT star for his grit, work ethic, and discipline.

Virat Kohli’s continued support for Indian sports

Sakshi Chaudhary isn’t the only name Kohli has supported in his mission to elevate the Indian sporting scene. The RCB has been part of multiple charities throughout his career, going back to his early playing days. It won’t be wrong to say that he is majorly responsible for India winning the landslide seven golds at the CWG.

Sakshi’s career was nearly derailed after her shoulder injury, and Indian fans have already seen how quickly an athlete can go from world-class to obsolete. So Kohli’s backing in bringing the boxer back to the forefront and her own ability to survive the ruthless bracket till the finals are nothing short of incredible.

If her gold medal inspires more high-profile figures to invest in athletes across sports, then Kohli’s quiet patronage will have delivered a return that stretches far beyond a single Commonwealth Games medal in Glasgow.

For all the latest cricket news, opinion and commentary and to share your voice head to our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.