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Bold’ and ‘fearless’ are the two words that best describe 22-year-old Garima Chaudhary, the lone Indian judoka to qualify for the London Olympics Games. She clinched a continental quota berth in the 63-kg weight category for the London Olympics on the basis of the latest ranking released by the International Judo Federation. Chaudhary is following an intense training schedule at NIS, Patiala, under her coach Jiwan Sharma. Before this, two judokas — Tombi Devi and Divya Sharma — had participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but could not make a podium finish. Tombi Devi could not qualify for the London games this time. Divya bid adieu to the game after the Beijing Games. Daughter of a transporter father Rajendra Singh and a beautician mother Satesh Chaudhary from Meerut, Garima started training when she was just 10 at Kailash Prakash Stadium in Meerut. Later, inspired by Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach Jiwan Sharma, Chaudhry started training under him in 2004. Since then she is honing her skills under him at SAI Centre of Excellence, Patiala. Since taking up judo 12 years back, there has been consistent improvement in her game. Having won numerous medals at the national-level, Chaudhary was selected for the Junior Asian Championship at 14. In the same year, she got selected for the Commonwealth Judo Championship that was held at New Zealand in 2004. This was her first senior-level international tournament, she thus become an exception by first competing in a senior international tournament, followed by a senior national championship.
Chaudhary’s international achievements include a gold, silver and bronze in the Junior Asian Championship at 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. Then, she won gold medals in the SAF Games at Colombo and Junior and Senior Commonwealth Championships at Mauritius in 2008, besides winning silver in the Commonwealth Championships held at Singapore in 2010. Expressing delight over her qualification, the judoka says it was a proud moment for her. “I have always believed in hard work as the sole mantra for success and this qualification has further reinstated my faith. Ever since my mother motivated me to take up sports at the age of 10, I have never been distracted from my aim. Like every sportsperson, I, too, have dreamt of is an Olympic medal and this qualification has brought me a step close to my dream,” adds the Meerut girl. Confident about her success in the London Games, the player says, “I am not taking any chances. I am strictly following the training schedule drafted by my coach as whatever I am today is because of him. He is well aware of my strengths and weaknesses. We are also studying the latest techniques and trying to work on some special moves that are fresh and unique.” Meanwhile, her coach Jiwan Sharma is equally confident of her success. “I know it is going to be a very tough call but Chaudhary has the ability to fight against odds and emerge victorious in adverse situations. Her strength and fighting zeal are unmatchable and I am really counting on her to end the medal drought for India in Olympics in judo. We will give our best shot. Rest is in the hands of God,” adds Sharma.
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