Imphal: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh Wednesday felicitated Linthoi Chanambam, India’s first-ever world champion in judo, here Wednesday.
Linthoi Chanambam claimed a historic gold at the World Cadet Judo Championship in Sarajevo, becoming the first from the country to win a medal in the tournament across any age-group.
The 15-year-old from Manipur prevailed over Brazil’s Bianca Reis in the final to finish on top of the podium in the women’s 57kg contest at the Arena Hotel Hills.
In November last year, Linthoi struck gold at the National Championships in Chandigarh, followed by another at the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Championships, in Bangkok, in July.
Upon her arrival at Imphal International Airport on Tuesday, Linthoi received a rousing home-welcoming by her family, friends and well-wishers.
Born to farmer parents residing in Mayang Imphal and one of three daughters, Linthoi is one of the few judokas from the country to be part of the ‘Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme, a flagship of the Union Sports Ministry. The TOPS programme is primarily meant for elite athletes, considered Olympics medal prospects.
For the last five years, the young Judoka from Manipur has been training real hard under the head coach Mamuka Kizilashvili, one of Georgia’s top coaches in Judo, at the JSW-Inspire Institute of Sports In Bellary, Karnataka.
In appreciation of her commendable victory, the state government has extended a reward of Rs 10 lakh & a memento.
Taking to Twitter, the Manipur CM wrote “Happy to meet gold medalist, Linthoi Chanambam who won the first gold medal at the recent World Cadet Judo Championship 2022 held at Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In appreciation of her marvellous achievement, the state government has extended a reward of Rs. 10 lakh.”
Besides her family, Mayang Imphal AC MLA Kongkham Robindro, Thanga AC MLA Tongbram Robindro Singh, Moirang AC MLA Thongam Shanti and her coach also attended the felicitation programme.
