Sushila Devi Likmabam seals Tokyo 2020 berth in judo
The Indian judoka has been awarded the continental quota in the women’s extra-lightweight (48kg) division.
Sushila Devi Likmabam will represent India at the Tokyo Olympics next month, the International Judo Federation (IJF) confirmed on Friday.
Sushila Devi will compete in the women’s extra-lightweight (48kg) division.
The 26-year-old clinched one of the continental quotas for Tokyo 2020 as one of the two highest-ranked Asians outside the top 18 on the Olympic Game Quota (OGQ) Rankings.
Olympic qualification in judo for Tokyo 2020 is dictated by the OGQ rankings, which is based on performance over the past 24 months.
The top 18 athletes in every weight division on the OGQ rankings earn a direct qualification to Tokyo 2020. However, only one athlete per country is allowed for each category.
So, if a nation has more than one judoka who meets the cut-off criteria for a particular weight category, the national federation decides which athlete participates in that division.
Furthermore, continental quotas are also made available to every regional body. These are distributed among the weight divisions.
With Asia receiving 10 continental quotas each for men and women, the Judo Union of Asia decided to allot two of these slots for the women’s extra-lightweight (48kg) category.
Sushila Devi Likmabam, ranked 46th on the OGQ rankings with 989 points, is the highest-ranked Asian outside the top 18 in her weight division and thus, secured one of these continental quotas.
The other women’s extra-lightweight (48kg) Asian quota would have gone to North Korean judoka Jon Yu Sun. But with North Korea withdrawing from the Tokyo Games, it will be passed on to the next eligible judoka.
Sushila Devi is the lone Indian judoka who has secured a ticket to Tokyo 2020 so far. Judo at the Tokyo Games will be played at the Nippon Budokan from July 24-31.