Indian judoka Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada made history at the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, by securing a silver medal in the girls’ 63 kg category. The 15-year-old, hailing from the village of Surva in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district, stood on the podium to represent India, fulfilling a personal goal she set before departing for the international event. This achievement marks only the second time an Indian athlete has claimed a judo medal at the Youth Olympics, following Tababi Devi’s silver medal in the girls’ 44 kg event in 2018.
Reflecting on her performance, Khushbu shared her excitement from Dakar, noting that the experience was a career highlight. Her path to the final involved a series of disciplined victories. She began by defeating Guinea’s Mamaissata Camara with a 1-0 scoreline, before securing decisive ippon victories against Morocco’s Abir Bouazzaoui and Algeria’s Dounia Berrahoual. In the final round, she faced Germany’s Jolina Reinhold, ultimately succumbing to an ippon to finish with the silver medal.
The news of the podium finish brought significant celebration to her home in Gujarat. Her father, Rajakbhai, who serves at the Government Circuit House in Junagadh, expressed deep pride in his daughter’s accomplishment. Khushbu’s interest in judo was largely inspired by her elder sister, Shahin Darjada, a junior Asian champion. Though Khushbu initially practiced wrestling at a district sports school, the grace and technique of judo moves drew her toward the sport.
Khushbu belongs to the Siddi community in Gir Somnath, an ethnic group that traces its roots to the Bantu communities of Africa. According to her coach, Lal Krishan Baghel of the Vijayi Bharat Center in Ahmedabad, the physical attributes of the community are particularly well-suited for combat sports. Baghel, who scouted Khushbu in 2022 alongside Georgian coach Lasha Kizilashvilli, noted that he first identified her potential while tracking her progress in junior-level competitions.
Before her success in Dakar, Khushbu gained valuable experience by competing against older athletes. At 14, she secured a bronze medal at the junior nationals, which is an U20 event, despite facing opponents aged 18 and 19. Her consistency continued this year with a bronze at the Asian Cadet Championships. Baghel emphasized that while Khushbu is a smart and observant athlete who learned much from watching her sister, the training focus remains on building her physical strength and situational awareness on the mat.
The training infrastructure for athletes like Khushbu is currently being expanded. The Vijayi Bharat Center in Ahmedabad is working to develop a pipeline for aspiring judokas, with a feeder center established in Gir Somnath. This facility currently supports more than 70 children between the ages of 11 and 15. The initiative aims to identify and nurture talent that can eventually transition to the senior international level.
Coach Baghel highlighted the importance of family support in sustaining these athletes. He worked closely with the Darjada family to ensure that competitive pursuits were prioritized, helping the family navigate social pressures such as early marriage proposals. This focus has enabled Khushbu and her peers, including Commonwealth Games 2026 representative Rohit Majgul, to remain committed to their training. As the federation looks to the future, Baghel believes that tapping into the untapped potential of the Siddi community could prove to be a transformative development for Indian judo.
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