Judokas Shushila Devi Likmabam and Navjot Chana earned a silver medal each for India on Thursday as the sport returned to the Commonwealth Games after a gap of 12 years.
The Indians were on a high right through the opening day of the three-day competition, as the judokas performed beyond expectations and forced their way into the medal rounds. There was some disappointment when Shushila and Navjot faltered at the final hurdle in the 48kg and 60kg sections.
In the women’s 48kg, which featured nine competitors, the 19-year-old Shushila, ranked 158th in the world, was drawn in Pool B.
Once she began her campaign with a win over Marie Effa Medza (Cameroon), there was no stopping the Guwahati-born judoka as she set up a gold medal match with Kimberley Renicks of Scotland. With Renicks being supported vociferously by the home crowd, Shushila fell behind in the final straightaway before losing the match by a Ippon.
Navjot, too, was ruthless with his opponents — Tom Pappas (Australia), Brandon Dodge (Wales) and Daniel Grange (South Africa) — as he moved into the 60kg summit clash.
The 31-year-old Police officer from Hoshiarpur (Punjab) could not, however, get going in the final against England’s Ashley McKenzie.
Kalpana Thoudam bagged a bronze in the women’s 52kg class, winning her classification match against Christienne Legentil (Mauritius) in style.
However, compatriot Manjeet Nandal was not as lucky, losing to South African Siyabulela Mabulu in the bronze medal match of the men’s 66kg category.
In the women’s 57kg event, Shivani lost in the first round.
