SAI Withholds Funding for Indian Judo Team at World Junior Championship

SAI's Decision on Judo Team Funding

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has opted not to finance the Indian judo team's participation in the upcoming World Junior Judo Championship scheduled for October 2-9 in Peru. Instead, they have approved the roster submitted by the Judo Federation of India (JFI) without any financial support from the government. This means the team will need to rely on private sponsors such as the Reliance Foundation and JSW’s Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) for funding.

The JFI proposed a team of nine athletes for the event; however, SAI declined full approval due to the absence of selection trials for the team, which is contrary to the selection policy outlined on the JFI's website and the directives from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) dated March 5, 2025. SAI highlighted this issue in advisory committee meetings, stressing the importance of transparency through the publication of the competition calendar and updated selection policies.

Additionally, the proposal from JFI was submitted on September 17, 2025, just 15 days before the championship, despite previous reminders to submit it at least 45 days in advance. Such delays lead to logistical challenges, including increased travel costs, missed deadlines for accommodation, and athletes being distracted by visa arrangements instead of focusing on their training.

Among the athletes listed is Himanshi Tokas, who recently achieved the rank of world No. 1 in the junior women’s -63kg category. Her expenses will be covered by the Reliance Foundation. The IIS will send five judokas to the championship: Nungshithoi Chanu (-52kg), Linthoi Chanambam (-63kg), Taibanganbi Chanu (-70kg), Ishroop Narang (-78kg), and Sidharth Rawat (-60kg).

Manisha Malhotra, president of IIS, emphasized the necessity of supporting athletes during critical times. She noted, "Our judokas have made significant progress, with Linthoi and Oliviya (Devi) earning medals at the cadet level. The next goal is to secure a medal at the junior World Championships, and Peru presents a fantastic opportunity for that."

Malhotra further stated, "Without our support, these athletes would have faced significant challenges in attending the event. This situation underscores the need for effective administration and policies that prioritize athlete welfare to prevent such occurrences in the future."