India’s only judoka at the Tokyo Games believes her quota-based qualification for the quadrennial event does not do justice to her talent and form
India’s Sushila Devi (left) takes on a judoka from Ukraine at the 2019 Grand Prix event in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
While Sushila Devi is all set to become the only judoka to represent India at the Olympics in Tokyo later this month, the Manipur fighter wants more.
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Sushila (48kg category) qualified for the prestigious Games through the continental quota which is allotted as per a judoka’s ranking. Asia has 10 quota slots, with one slot allotted per country and Sushila, with 989 points, is seventh on the list.
‘Good enough to win medal’
However, she insists that had it not been for COVID-19, she would have directly qualified for the Games. “I feel I’m in good form and would have qualified on merit had it not been for the global COVID-19 situation that has hampered international travel and competition. I can prove my point with a good show in Tokyo. I’m good enough to win a medal,” Sushila, 26, tells mid-day during a virtual interaction from Delhi on Tuesday.
She says that the Olympic stage has been her dream and a medal at the quadrennial event, her ultimate goal. “Ever since I began playing judo, I’ve only dreamt of glory at the Olympics. I won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and then the gold at the 2019 Commonwealth Championships but making it to the Olympics is most special.
“I’m putting in double the effort now in training as compared to when I trained for the Commonwealth events. I hope to do well in Tokyo,” she adds. India’s judo coach Jiwan Sharma is also confident that his ward will give her best in Tokyo.
Realistic expectations
“Look, it’s a great achievement to qualify for these Games. But with less than a month to go and considering the disruption in training and events due to the COVID-19 situation, we have to be realistic in our expectations. The current focus is on Sushila’s mental strength since the pressure at an Olympics is completely
different.
“But the bigger picture is that judo in India is growing and in the next five to six years we will definitely taste more international success in the sport,” says Sharma, who has been training Sushila at the Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary, Karnataka.
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