#YouthOlympics2018: Thangjam Tababi Devi clinches India's first judo medal
Thangjam Tababi Devi became India's first judo medalist at the Olympic level, claiming a silver at the ongoing Youth Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She lost to Venezuela's Maria Giminez in the finals of the women's 44kg category. Tababi Devi, an Asian cadet champion hailing from Manipur, lost 0-11, in the summit showdown that lasted a little over two minutes yesterday night. Here's more.
Tushar Mane won silver in men's 10m air rifle
16-year-old Tababi reached the finals after defeating Croatia's Ana Viktorija Puljiz in semifinals, Kosovo's Erza Muminoviq in the quarterfinals, and Bhutan's Yangchen Wangmo in the round of 16. Her silver was India's second medal at the ongoing Youth Games. Shooter Tushar Mane clinched the silver in men's 10m air rifle competition, in which Russia's Grigorii Shamakov won gold and Serbia's Aleksa Mitrovic won bronze.
National Champion in swimming failed to reach finals
In other events, like swimming, National Champion Srihari Nataraj failed to qualify for the men's 100m backstroke finals after finishing 9th in the semis. Only the top eight reach the finals. Nataraj clocked 56.48sec, which was better than his Heats timing of 56.75sec.
India is being represented by 47 athletes at ongoing Games
India is being represented by 47 athletes at the ongoing Youth Games, its biggest ever contingent. Tababi's win is significant as India have never won an Olympic medal in judo either at senior or youth level. In the last Youth Olympics held in 2014 in Nanjing, China, India had won just two medals, a silver and a bronze, in weightlifting and archery, respectively.
India's best performance at the Games was in 2010 edition
India's best performance at the Games was in 2010 (inaugural edition) when it won six silver and two bronze medals. Among the medalists were Pooja Dhanda (wrestling), HS Prannoy (badminton), Yuki Bhambri (tennis), and Shiva Thapa (boxing). Bhambri was India's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony.
