SAI facilitates Japan exposure for Indian judokas ahead of Asian Games, World Championships<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is facilitating an overseas training stint for India\u2019s senior judo team at Tsukuba University in Japan as part of preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and the World Judo Championships in Baku.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A 14-member Indian delegation is taking part in an International Training (Pre-Games) programme at Tsukuba University till October 2. The delegation comprises 11 judokas \u2014 one male and 10 female athletes \u2014 along with three coaches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Out of the 11 judokas, three \u2013 Asmita Dey (Women\u2019s -48kg), Yamini Mourya (Women\u2019s -57kg) and Takhellambam Inunganbi (Women\u2019s -70kg) are a part of the Asian Games team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Asmita will compete on September 30, Yamini and Inunganbi are scheduled to take the mat on October 1 at the Aichi International Arena (IG Arena), Nagoya.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The overseas exposure camp comes at a crucial phase of the international calendar, with the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya followed immediately by the World Judo Championships in Baku from October 4 to 11. A total of 10 Judo players \u2013 one male and nine female \u2013 are taking part in the Baku tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Training at the Tsukuba University currently are Harsh Singh (-60kg) among the men, while the women\u2019s squad features Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medalist Asmita Dey (-48kg), Shraddha K Chopade (-52kg), L Nungshithoi Chanu (-52kg), Yamini Mourya (-57kg), Linthoi Chanambam (-63kg), Unnati Sharma (-63kg), Himanshi Tokas (-63kg), Takhelambam Inunganbi (-70kg), KH Taibanganbi (-70kg) and Ishroop Narang (-78kg).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The coaching staff includes Jiwan Kumar Sharma, Birender Singh and Rajwinder Kaur.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The sanction has been granted under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports\u2019 Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) scheme, with the Judo Federation of India responsible for coordinating the foreign exposure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The coaching staff includes Jiwan Kumar Sharma, Birender Singh and Rajwinder Kaur.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For the judokas, training in Japan in the final weeks before the competition provides a chance to acclimatise in the host country while getting high-level preparation ahead of Asian Games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n