Judoka Khushbu Rajakbhai Enters Youth Olympics Final, One Win Away From Gold

Teenage swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu continued her impressive rise with a bronze medal in the women's 100m freestyle, while Khushbu Rajakbhai scripted history by becoming only the second Indian judoka to reach a Youth Olympic Games final, assuring herself of at least a silver in the women's 63kg category in Dakar, Senegal, on Monday. Dhinidhi clocked 56.27 seconds to finish third behind Croatia's Ana Bobanovic, who clinched gold in 55.89 seconds, and New Zealand's Alyssa Lawson, who took silver in 56.13 seconds.

The 16-year-old from Bengaluru had earlier topped her heat in 56.80 seconds to qualify as the third-fastest swimmer for the final. Bobanovic (56.22) and Lawson (56.53) were the only swimmers quicker than her in the heats.

Khushbu, meanwhile, is on the brink of a historic gold. She will take on Germany's Cadet world champion Jolina Reinhold in the final later on Monday, with a victory set to make her India's first judoka to win gold at the Youth Olympics.

Thangjam Tababi Devi remains India's only judo medallist at the Games, having won silver in the women's 44kg category at the 2018 edition in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A gold for the 15-year-old Khushbu would also make her only the fourth Indian overall to win the top prize at the Youth Olympics. Shooters Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary, and weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga had achieved the feat in 2018.

Khushbu has been in commanding form throughout the competition. She opened her campaign with a 1-0 yuko victory over Guinea's Mamaissata Camara in the round of 16. A yuko is a minor scoring point awarded for an effective technique.

The Gujarat judoka then overwhelmed Morocco's Abir Bouazzaoui in the quarterfinals, winning by ippon, before storming into the final with another ippon victory over Algeria's Dounia Berrahoual.

Her semifinal opponent was also handed a 'Hansoku-make', the most serious penalty in judo, resulting in immediate disqualification and an automatic ippon victory for Khushbu.

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