India’s Shushila Devi knocked out early at World Judo Championships
Shushila Devi was pinned down by Chile’s Mary Dee Vargas Ley in the opening round. The loss may affect her chances of going to the Tokyo Olympics.
Indian judoka L Shushila Devi was eliminated in the first round at the World Judo Championships 2021 in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday.
L Shushila, competing in the 48kg, was pinned down by Chilean Mary Dee Vargas Ley, a Pan American champion, with 1 minute and 53 seconds left in the bout.
World No. 45 Shushila Devi started as the aggressor, attacking Mary Dee quickly and dominated the first minute of the four-minute bout. However, the Indian judoka could not find an opening and was asked to launch a calm attack by her coach.
Mary Dee Vargas then went on the offensive and was marginally better, managing to pin Shushila Devi down but not enough to earn her the point she needed.
However, the world No. 30 Chilean quickly regrouped and after keeping Shushila Devi at bay for a few seconds, Mary Dee Vargas tried to put the Indian off-balance.
Shushila Devi managed to evade the attack twice but Mary Dee Vargas was relentless and was finally successful in her third attempt, sweeping Shushila Devi off the ground.
It gave Mary Dee Vargas the Ippon (full point) and she advanced to the second round in Pool A.
The loss may affect L Shushila Devi’s chances of making the Tokyo Olympics.
The qualification rules state that the top 18 ranked judokas in the world across weight categories, as of June 28, 2021, will earn a direct spot to the Tokyo Olympics.
Apart from the top 18, a continental ranking list will be prepared and the highest-ranked players on the list will be handed an Olympics spot, subject to one judoka from each country.
There are no Indians in the top-18 in any weight category and only one can make the Tokyo Olympics through the continental quota.
As things stand, Shushila Devi holds the continental quota for India at the upcoming Olympics.
However, Jasleen Singh Saini - the other Indian judoka in search of an Olympics spot - only needs one win to leapfrog Shushila Devi in the points tally and earn his Games debut.
Jasleen Singh Saini will look to do exactly that when he takes on Moldova’s Radu Izvoreanu in the men’s 66kg on Monday.