Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics: Judoka Khushbu strikes silver

A gold would have made Khushbu only the fourth Indian to win the top prize at the Youth Olympics, joining pistol shooters Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary, and weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga, who all struck gold in 2018. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Teenager Khushbu Rajakbhai signed off with a silver medal after becoming only the second Indian judoka to reach the podium at the Youth Olympic Games here on Monday.

Khushbu, 15, settled for silver in the women’s 63kg category after losing to Germany’s Jolina Reinhold by ippon in a contest that lasted just 48 seconds.

The Gujarat judoka had scripted a dream run to the final, raising hopes of a historic gold, but ran into a formidable opponent in Cadet world champion Reinhold, who proved too strong in the title clash.

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

A gold would have made Khushbu only the fourth Indian to win the top prize at the Youth Olympics, joining pistol shooters Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary, and weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga, who all struck gold in 2018.

Khushbu was in impressive form on her way to the final. She opened with a 1-0 yuko win over Guinea’s Mamaissata Camara in the round of 16 before dispatching Morocco’s Abir Bouazzaoui by ippon in the quarterfinals.

She then booked her place in the final with another ippon victory over Algeria’s Dounia Berrahoual. The Algerian was also handed a ‘Hansoku-make’, the most serious penalty in judo, resulting in immediate disqualification and an automatic win for Khushbu.