By Our Special Correspondent
27-year-old Shusheela Devi Likmabam on Monday, August 1, created history as the only Indian woman to win multiple silver medals at the Commonwealth Games. 4 years ago, Shusheela thought of quitting the sport after becoming depressed.
The Manipur judoka decided to end her career in 2018 when she failed to qualify for the Asian Games. Shusheela suffered a hamstring injury that forced her to miss the Asian Games trials and Shusheela felt all was lost.
However, Jeevan Sharma, Sushila's coach, did not let her ward down. The Dronacharya awardee continues to encourage her and help her get back on track and back on the mat.
Sushila's persistence paid off as she became the only Indian judoka to represent the county at the Tokyo Olympics. However, it was not smooth sailing for her before the Games.
The entire Indian judo squad had to withdraw from the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek after two players tested positive for Covid-19. Lockdowns imposed due to Covid-19 made it difficult for Sushila to get a junior national judoka as a sparring partner at her home in Imphal.
Sushila, who got a job with the Manipur Police in 2017, supports the young man's family while paying her sparring partner and also paying off the debt.
Even if the direct berth was missed, all the hard work was not wasted as the Sushila quota was an intercontinental quota.
Although her Olympics debut did not go as expected, Shusheela has set her sights on Commonwealth Games 2022. And on Monday, Shusheela made history by bagging her second Games medal in the women's 48kg category.
Sushila's family is proud of the young judoka's efforts. When she started in 2002, she wanted to be better than her uncle Likmabam Dinit Singh, an international level judoka.
Her brother Shilakshi Singh is a national level judo champion. 6-year-old Shushilafel fell in love with the sport when she accompanied her brother to judo tournaments in her hometown.
Overcoming many ups and downs, Indian judoka on Monday wrote her name in the history of Indian sports. The elusive gold medal eluded her but she managed it like no other Indian judoka had done before.
A reward for not giving up a Birmingham medal. Shusheela will surely be hungry for more after her historic performance at the Commonwealth Games.
Judoka Likmabam Sushila Devi hails from Heingang Mayai Laikai in Imphal East District. Born in 1995, she is the second eldest of four children. Right from the start, Sushila has shown signs of a champion who has excelled in events ranging from the local to the prestigious Commonwealth Games.
Her uncle, Dinit Sushila, was taken to Lampak by Khuman in December 2002. She started training in Khuman at a very young age. She also trained under Sabitri Chanu of Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Special Area Games (SAG) Khuman Lampak.
Comments