When Linthoi Chanambam, 16, turned the primary Indian to win a world title in judo on Friday, two households had been united in celebrations — one in her hometown in Manipur, and the opposite in a city in Georgia.
When the world was battling the Covid-19 pandemic and the primary lockdown was imposed, Chanambam was caught in Akhmeta, a city of about 8,000 individuals in Georgia, for 9 months. The hometown of her coach Mamuka Kizilashvii, Akhmeta, a judo hub which has produced two Olympic champions, turned Chanambam’s second house, as she shaped a detailed bond together with her coach’s prolonged household of 30.
On Friday, Chanambam defeated Brazil’s Reis Bianca (57 kg) 1-0 by Waza-ari — a throw — to win the gold on the World Cadet Championships in Sarajevo. Kizilashvii’s household was the primary to obtain an image of Chanambam posing with the gold medal they usually had been quickly on a video name.
“It was a difficult time for the whole world, as it was for us too. But coach Kizilashvii’s family made sure that I was always happy, although I was far away from my parents and family,” Chanambam stated from Sarajevo.
The ice was damaged over meals at Kizilashvii’s house. His spouse Salome, son Levan and daughter Elene took to the teenage Indian judoka and made her really feel at house.
Kizilashvii was by Chanambam’s facet when she gained the historic gold. “I sent Linthoi’s picture with the gold medal to my family, they too celebrated,” he stated.
Linthoi Chanambam on the house of her Georgian coach Mamuka Kizilashvii. (Courtesy: Mamuka Kizilashvii)
The restrictions on worldwide flights proved to be a blessing in disguise for Chanambam, because it enabled her to coach in opposition to a number of the prime judokas within the city from the place 2004 Athens Olympic winner Zurab Zviadauri and 2008 Beijing Olympics champion Irakali Tsirekidze hail.
“We were training in Georgia when the lockdown was imposed, so we could not return to India as planned. Most of the national judo players come to train there. Chanambam would train against the likes of world junior champion Eteri Liparteliani,” Kizilashvii stated.
Chanambam took her first steps in judo in Mayang, Manipur, the place her father is a fish farmer who additionally works as a mason, and her mom is a part-time tailor and homemaker.
“My father owns half an acre of land on which there is a fish pond. We are not rich, but my parents are very determined people. They never let me stop dreaming about winning a big medal in judo,” Chanambam stated. The household earns about Rs 80,000 a yr by promoting fish.
Chanambam began off by enjoying soccer, and tried her hand in boxing earlier than focussing on judo. “I trained in judo like my life depended on it,” she stated.
Her power and willpower are her largest strengths, stated Angom Surjit Meitei, coach on the Mayai Lambi Sports Academy, the place she first skilled. “She would never miss a training session and would also help her family in managing the fish pond,” he stated.
When she was simply 11 years outdated, Chanambam needed to depart her house to maneuver to Bellary in Karnataka, after being chosen by the Encourage Institute of Sport (IIS). “I am very attached to my father. We cooked meals together and ate together. When I won the sub-junior national title and IIS coaches told me about my selection, we both cried a lot as I had to leave home,” she recalled.
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Whereas she has returned with a medal from 4 of her 5 worldwide competitions to this point, the gold on Friday was her largest achievement. “After the final, I felt like I had done something incredible,” she stated, including that she was now trying ahead to some “me time”.
“Dancing to hip hop music and gardening is what I want to do during a short break. After that, it will be back to judo. I have many more goals to achieve. This is just the start,” she stated.
