Linthoi Chanambam Makes History By Clinching Gold Medal At Judo Championship

15-year-old Linthoi Chanambam made history by winning gold at the World Cadet Judo Championship in Sarajevo. She clinched India’s first-ever gold medal at the tournament across any age group.

Linthoi Chanambam hailing from Manipur defeated Brazil’s Bianca Reis and won gold in the women’s 57 kg contest. She won India’s first gold medal at the World Championship across any age group, whether it is the cadet, junior or senior level.

Chanambam won her first gold medal at the Sub-junior National Championships in 2018. She later clinched another gold medal in 2021 at the National Championships in Chandigarh. In July 2022, Chanambam won gold at the Asian Cadent and Junior Judo Championships.

Linthoi Chanambam Wins Gold

Linthoi Chanambam started Judo in 2016 and attended the Inspired Institute of Sports (IIS) in Bellari in October 2017. Chanambam said, “I always wanted to take up a sport like Judo from a very young age.” She added that she loved the sports of boxing and football as well.

Since there were several Judo academies near her hometown in Manipur and she had her family’s support, she took up Judo.

Chanambam is currently a part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) beneficiaries as a development group athlete. The scheme provides assistance and holistic support to TOPS athletes.

Chanambam’s coach Mamuka Kizilashvili said he first saw her play in Telangana when he was part of a talent identification development programme. He said that he instantly knew she had the potential to become a world-class athlete.

Kizilashvili said, “This is a historic achievement and could change Indian Judo in the coming days. Both the Indian government and the Sports Authority of India are doing the right things to support the athletes. For instance, Linthoi was only 13 when we recommended her to SAI and they funded her from that very moment.”

Linthoi Chanambam has now set her sights on larger events, including the Olympics. She said, “I will try my best to win a medal in Paris, but if not in Paris, I am sure I can do it at the 2028 Olympics.”

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