The Manipur judoka found it difficult to make a significant impression at the Olympic Games in Japan, and she was defeated in the opening.
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The 28-year-old judo Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games medalist from Manipur, Shushila Devi Likmabam, has withdrawn from the 2022 Asian Games selection trials, which were set to take place in China in September. Shushila gave an interview as justification for skipping the national selection trials: “I am not fully fit to compete at the Asian Games selection trials happening this week in New Delhi as it took a long time to recover from a toe injury that aggravated during the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.”
Delhi’s Swaita, who competed in the women’s under-48kg division in Shushila’s place, took first place. Shushila last competed at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 almost nine months ago. Sushila took a lengthy leave after winning silver in the women’s below 48 kg weight division at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and hasn’t yet found her competitive mojo.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Sushila won silver in the under 48 kg division. Additionally, she met the Asian quota requirement to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The Manipur judoka found it difficult to make a significant impression at the Olympic Games in Japan, and she was defeated in the opening round.
The Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex host the three-day national selection trials, which got underway on Thursday, April 6, and will wrap up on Saturday, April 8. 14 weight categories, including seven for women, are undergoing national selection trials. National selection trials are being held by an ad hoc panel as a result of the Judo Federation of India (JFI) being suspended last year for breaking the 2011 National Sports Code.
Although the winners in each weight division will be qualified to compete at the postponed 2022 Asian Games, which will take place in Hangzhou in September. The team’s overall strength will depend on approval from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Indian judokas don’t have a great track record at the Asian Games. Even the top athlete is unable to advance to the quarterfinal round. Therefore, which weight category the IOA will shortlist judo athletes for the Asian Games will depend entirely on them, according to a national-level coach.
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In the women’s 48 kg weight class at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Indian judoka Shushila Devi Likmabam (born 1 February 1995) won the silver medal. Her home state in India is Manipur. In the semifinal match, Likmabam had previously pinned Chloe Rayner. In the women’s 48 kg judo, she took home the silver medal.
She took home a silver medal in the women’s 48 kg judo event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games after losing to Kimberley Renicks in the championship match. She won the gold medal in the women’s 48 Kg weight division at the 2019 South Asian Games.
Likmabam, the sole judo competitor for India, earned a spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics. In the women’s 48 kg competition, she took part but was defeated right away. In the women’s 48 kg judo event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She took home a silver medal after losing to South African Michaela Whitebooi in the gold medal match.
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