Judo at Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Shushila Devi Likmabam carries Indian hopes
The 26-year-old Indian judoka is competing in the women’s extra-lightweight (48kg) division. Watch Shushila live!
India’s Shushila Devi Likmabam will be the nation’s only representative in judo at Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Shushila Devi Likmabam is competing in the women’s extra-lightweight (48kg) division, which has 28 entries in all. Judo will run from July 24 to 31 and will be held at the Nippon Budokan. Shushila will be in action on Day 1 on Saturday, with the medal events to be held on the same day.
The judo competition at Tokyo 2020 is a knock-out event and begins with the Round of 32. The draw will be held on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Shushila Devi Likmabam, silver medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, qualified for the Summer Games through the continental quota slot.
Ranked 46th on the Olympic Games Quota (OGQ) rankings with 989 points, Shushila is the highest ranked Asian outside the top 18, who gained a direct entry into the Olympics.
However, in Tokyo, the Indian judoka will face a stiff challenge. The women’s extra-lightweight category has often been a happy hunting ground for Japan.
At the recently-concluded 2021 World Judo Championships in Budapest, Japanese stars Natsumi Tsunoda and Wakana Koga won gold and silver medals, respectively. But neither have managed to make the cut for their home Olympics with Funa Tonaki, the 2017 world champion, winning the national trials to make the Olympics squad.
But the 25-year-old Funa Tonaki will have to be wary of the European threat that includes the top seed Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo, Spain's Julia Figueroa and Irina Dolgova, representing the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
Defending Olympic champion Paula Pareto of Argentina and Otgontsetseg Galbadrakh of Kazakhstan, the Rio 2016 bronze medallist, will also be in action in the women’s 48kg.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics judo schedule for Shushila Devi Likmabam and live India start times
All times are in India Standard Times (IST)
July 24, Saturday
Women’s 48kg: Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarter-finals - 7:30 AM IST onwards
Women’s 48kg: Repechage, semi-finals, final - 1:30 PM IST onwards
Where to watch Judo at Tokyo 2020 Olympics live in India?
Fans can watch the live telecast of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with English commentary on the Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 2 HD, Sony Six and Sony SIX HD TV channels in India. Sony TEN 3, Sony TEN 3 HD, Sony TEN 4 and Sony TEN 4 HD will broadcast Tokyo 2020 in regional languages.
Live streaming of the Tokyo Olympics will be available on Sony Liv.
Broadcast subject to Sony Sports Network.