Sushila Likmabam : 2014 Commonwealth Silver Medalist In Judo
A Profile

Daniel Chabungbam *

Sushila Likmabam - 20th Commonwealth Games 2014 Silver Medal winner reception :: July 30, 2014 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Manipur has been producing a number of sports persons who won medals at various international and national events. They have brought laurels to the state as well as the nation as these players from Manipur have contributed significantly to the medal tally of the country in any international sporting event.

Among such players is an 18 year old Likmabam Sushila Devi, who bagged a silver medal at the recently concluded 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Likmabam Sushila Devi is the second child of Likmabam Manihar Singh and Likmabam ongbi Chaobi Devi of Heingang Mayai Leikai in Imphal East district. She was born on 1st February 1995 and is the second sibling among four children. Right from the village and local (leikai) level sporting events to the Commonwealth Games Stadium, Sushila Devi stands up with a nerve to win medals in her favourite game of Judo.

Her uncle, an international Judo player Likmabam Dinit Singh was the first coach of Sushila. Her parents also supported her in the initial stage. Dinit Singh took Sushila to the Khuman Lampak Indoor stadium in December 2002 where she started playing Judo at an early stage of her life.

In 2004-05, she moved into Sports Authority of India (SAI) Special Area Games (SAG) at Khuman Lampak to practice Judo. She then shifted her training to NIS Centre of Excellence at Patiala in 2010 and is undergoing training under the guidance of Jeevan Sharma. Sushila has also trained under the guidance of SAG coach Deben Singh and Sabitri Devi. Her uncle has been her inspiration from her early childhood.

Sushila Likmabam always had an attraction for Judo, but it was her uncle to whom she attributes her being in this sporting career. He is a Judo player himself and got her interested into this game when she was a child. He has trained her in her early days and made her ready for any competition.

Besides, the support of her family and relatives also serves a huge morale booster during her maiden journey into the sporting career. Elder brother of Sushila, Likmabam Shilakshi Singh is also a national gold medal winner in Judo. He is in the Services team of the country representing Border Security Force (BSF).

After her performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Sushila Likmabam is at present practicing with a hope of winning medal in the forthcoming Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Sushila Likmabam - 20th Commonwealth Games 2014 Silver Medal winner reception :: July 30, 2014 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

About her preparations for the upcoming Asian Games, a hopeful Sushila Likmabam says, "I am positive about the games. I am putting in my best efforts, and I am optimistic about not repeating the same mistakes at the 2014 CWG and ensure a gold medal." She feels she could have won a gold medal at the multi-sport event at Glasgow had India provided better facilities. The players, mainly from Manipur, have enough talent and enough capabilities to win medals at national and international level. But lack of proper facilities has always kept them behind others.

Olympians, medalist, senior players and coaches from Manipur are working in other states. So, Sushila Likmabam urged the state government to provide jobs to those who have left the state in order to produce players at the national and international level. The state players are facing problems including monetary fund to organise a good training facilities or to be exposed to training facilities available away from the home state or even away from the country.

The players also lack senior players within the state. "Judo is not such a popular sport in this country. So the government does not sanction enough funds. I hope the scene will change now," added the 2010 Commonwealth Championships gold medallist. Sushila stressed on the need to participate in more international events and increase the number of national competitions for improving performance.

"Perfection comes with practice. We should be sent for more international events so that we can raise our standards. On the other hand, emphasis should also be given on more national events to bring in young talents."

Sushila Devi was offered jobs outside the state but declined the offer as she wants to play and bring medal for her native state, Manipur.

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