Karnataka’s absence from the ongoing Sub-junior National Judo Championships in Pune has left young judokas deeply frustrated, with many pointing to the Karnataka Judo Association (KJA) for its lack of action. The championship features nearly 1,200 participants from 29 states, competing in the Sub-junior (12-14 years) and Cadet (15-17 years) categories. Karnataka’s conspicuous absence has upset judokas and their parents.
Shailesh Tilak, secretary of the Maharashtra Judo Association and organizing committee, confirmed, “Yes, Karnataka is not here. We don’t know the reason why.” It’s been reported that the KJA failed to conduct the mandatory trials, which are typically held a month before the Nationals to select the team. This oversight denied aspiring judokas from Karnataka the opportunity to showcase their skills. In a normal scenario, Karnataka would send a team of 34 judokas—18 in Sub-junior and 16 in Cadet categories—along with four coaches.
A source familiar with the situation stated, “This is not the first time Karnataka has failed to send a team to Nationals or other national-level competitions,” attributing this to inconsistent handling of the sport by the state association. This lack of representation is particularly impactful as the Pune Nationals offer cash prizes for top-4 finishers and serve as a trial for the Indian team for the 2025 Sub-junior Asian Championships in Bangkok.
Several attempts to reach SR Shivananda, KJA secretary, for an explanation were met with silence or disconnected calls. The absence of representation in such a crucial event raises serious concerns about the future of Karnataka’s judo prospects.
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