Linthoi Chanambam - Another Golden Girl from Manipur

When a small girl fights with boys of her age and sends some of them to the hospital, just don’t restrict her activities, for like Linthoi Chanambam of Manipur, she may be another of India’s golden girls in the making, as she may be just in one of her practice sessions for the future.

- GP CAPT ACHCHYUT KUMAR

The story of Linthoi Chanambam is yet another repeat story of a girl coming out from a poor background and fighting all odds to rise to the top of the world. Born to Ibohal and Guneshwori at Manipur on the last day of the year 2006, the fifteen-year-old has achieved something which no other Indian has achieved ever before — a world title in judo.

Friday, 26 August 2022, was a red letter day in India’s judo history when in the final of the 57 kg category at the World Judo Cadet Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Linthoi Chanambam got the better of Brazil’s Bianca Reis to rewrite India’s judo history.

The World Judo Cadet Championships are the highest level of international competition for those below the age of 18 years and is conducted every second year. Starting from the Budapest Championships held in 2009 for the first time, the one at Bosnia was the seventh edition of the Championships. The one held this year was a consequence of the postponement of the 2021 Championships due to the Covid pandemic. The next World Judo Cadet Championship will be conducted in Croatia in 2023.