Kolkata, January 30: Manipur's young judo sensation Linthoi Chanambam added another remarkable achievement to her growing list of accolades by winning the gold medal in the girls' 63 kg category and being adjudged Best Judoka (Girls) at the Junior National Judo Championships held in Kolkata, West Bengal.
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| Linthoi Chanambam receives the Best Judoka (Girls) trophy after winning gold in the girls’ -63 kg category at the Junior National Judo Championships in Kolkata. |
The 19-year-old judoka delivered an outstanding performance throughout the championship, displaying exceptional technical skills, tactical awareness, and composure on the mat. Dominating each of her bouts with confidence and precision, Linthoi remained unbeaten in her weight category to secure the national title. Her impressive consistency, fighting spirit, and superior technique also earned her the coveted Best Judoka (Girls) award, recognising her as the tournament's most outstanding female competitor.
Linthoi's latest success further cements her reputation as one of India's brightest prospects in judo. Despite her young age, she has already established herself among the country's elite athletes through a series of historic performances at both national and international levels.
She created history by becoming India's first-ever medallist at the Junior World Judo Championships, winning a bronze medal in the women's 63 kg category at the championships held in Lima, Peru. In a landmark performance, she defeated Joni Geilen of the Netherlands to secure India's maiden medal at the prestigious event, bringing global recognition to Indian judo.
Even before that achievement, Linthoi had etched her name into the history books by winning the gold medal at the 2022 World Cadet Judo Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the women's 57 kg category. The historic victory made her the first Indian judoka to win a medal at any World Judo Championships across all age categories, marking a breakthrough moment for the sport in the country.
Her impressive international record also includes a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Cadet Championships, along with bronze medals at the 2021 Asian Junior Championships and the 2021 Asian Cadet Championships. These consistent performances have established her as one of the most promising talents in Asian and world judo.
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Linthoi's latest triumph in Kolkata has once again brought pride to Manipur, a state renowned for producing world-class athletes across various disciplines. Her success also reflects the growing standard of judo in India and the effectiveness of long-term athlete development programmes.
Sports enthusiasts, coaches, and officials have congratulated the young champion on her outstanding achievement, expressing confidence that she is well on course to represent India with distinction at future continental championships, World Championships, and the Olympic Games.
With another national title and the Best Judoka honour added to her impressive resume, Linthoi Chanambam continues to inspire aspiring athletes while strengthening Manipur's and India's presence on the international judo stage.
