Manipur Judoka Sushila Devi brings glory to India; settles for silver

India’s medal rush continues at the Commonwealth Games as, hailing from Manipur, Judoka Sushila Devi Likmabam secured the silver medal in the women’s judo 48kg final, giving India its seventh medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Sushila Devi had to settle for silver after suffering a defeat against South Africa’s Michaela Whitebooi by a Waza-Ari at the Coventry Arena Judo Mat 2.

The match between the two Judokas was hard fought. In the match, both players received a second Shido apiece and both judokas were on two penalties each, however, Michaela Whitebooi won the gold with a leg sweep.

The 27-year-old Judoka is from Heingang Mayai Leikai in Imphal East district. Born in 1995, she is the second oldest among four children. Since the beginning, Sushila showed signs of a champion excelling in events, ranging from local to the prestigious Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, congratulations have flooded in since she secured the silver for the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh amongst others have congratulated Sushila on her feats at the ongoing Commonwealth Games.

And, shortly after Sushila Devi Likmabam clinched the silver medal, Indian judoka Vijay Kumar Yadav bagged the bronze medal by defeating Petros Christodoulides of Cyprus in the men’s 60 kg category.

The match was indeed a cakewalk for Vijay Kumar as he smashed his opponent to register 10 points in just 48 seconds.

Meanwhile, Indian weightlifter Harjinder Kaur brought India its seventh weightlifting medal and ninth overall in Commonwealth Games 2022 as she clinched a bronze in the women’s 71 kg final.