Who is Linthoi Chanambam? All you need to know about the latest sensation in Indian Sports.

Judo has been among the most underrated and underappreciated sports in India. Manipur is one of the states known to produce a large number of Judokas who represent India on international platforms. There have been several judokas who have tasted success at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Championships. However, they have not been able to replicate the same performance in the Summer Olympics and World Championships. On August 27, 2022, Linthoi Chanambam etched her name in the history books by becoming the first Indian ever to win the gold medal across any age group. She defeated Brazil’s Bianca Reis to clinch the prestigious title in the women’s 57kg class at the World Cadet Championships 2022 held in Sarajevo.

Here are all the things that you need to know about the latest sensation Linthoi Chanambam.

Where is Linthoi Chanambam from?

Linthoi Chanambam hails from Mayang Imphal in Manipur.

When is Linthoi Chanambam’s birth date?

Linthoi Chanambam was born on 31st December 2006.

 What is her family background?

Her father is a farmer while her mother is a housewife. She has an elder sister and a younger sister.

At what age did she start playing Judo?

She started playing Judo in 2014. 

Who has been her biggest support system?

Her biggest support system is her father who accompanied her to the practice sessions. Her family has always encouraged her from the very beginning.

When did she win her first medal at the national level?

She clinched her first medal at the national level in the sub-junior National Championships in 2018.

Apart from her recent victory in the World Cadet Championships 2022, what tournaments has she won?

She won a gold medal in the National Sub-Junior and Cadet Judo Championships 2021-22 in Chandigarh, Punjab. She then claimed the gold medal at the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Championships 2022 in July.

In which category of Judo does she represent India?

She represents India in the 57kg category.

Who is the coach of Linthoi Chanambam?

Her coach is Mamuka Kizilashvili from Georgia. Mamuka was a member of the talent identification development program that is responsible for finding talented judokas across India. Linthoi came under his radar during the nationals held in Telangana. Since 2017, she has been training under him at the Indian Institute of Sport (IIS) in Bellary, Karnataka.

Who is Linthoi’s inspiration?

The Judoka idolizes Majlinda Kelmendi from Kosovo. Majlinda became the first athlete from Kosovo to win a gold medal in the Olympics. She achieved it by winning the gold in the women’s 52 kg category at the Rio Olympics 2016.