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Devi wins India's first ever Olympic medal in judo at Youth Games

Last updated on: October 08, 2018 12:44 IST

Tababi Devi Thangjam

IMAGE: Tababi Devi Thangjam, white, in action against Ana Viktorija Puljiz of Croatia in the semi-finals. Photograph: Chloe Knott for OIS/IOC/Handout via Reuters

Tababi Devi Thangjam became India's first judo medallist at the Olympic level, claiming a silver at the ongoing Youth Games after losing to Venezuela's Maria Giminez in the final of the women's 44kg category, in Buenos Aires.

Tababi Devi, an Asian cadet champion hailing from Manipur, lost 0-11, also conceding a penalty point in the process, in the summit showdown that lasted a little over two minutes on Sunday night.

 

India have never won an Olympic medal in judo either at the senior or the youth level.

The 16-year-old defeated Ana Viktorija Puljiz of Croatia 10-0 in the semi-finals. Prior to that, she defeated Bhutan's Yangchen Wangmo 10-0 in the round of 16 before getting the better of Erza Muminoviq of Kosovo in the quarters.

Tababi Devi Thangjam

IMAGE: Tababi Devi Thangjam poses with her silver medal. Photograph: Indian Olympic Association/Twitter

Her silver was India's second medal at the ongoing Games after shooter Tushar Mane also clinched the second position in the men's 10m air rifle competition.

However, in swimming, national champion Srihari Natraj could not qualify for the men's 100m backstroke finals after finishing ninth in the semis. Only the top-eight make the final.

Nataraj clocked 56.48sec, which was better than his heats timing of 56.75sec.

India won just two medals -- a silver and a bronze -- in the last Youth Olympics in 2014 in Nanjing in China.

India's best performance at the Games came in its inaugural edition in 2010 when the nation fetched six silver and two bronze medals.

The country is being represented by 47 athletes at the ongoing Games, its biggest ever contingent.

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