Rakhshinda, Vishal from J&K to represent India in World Deaf Judo Championship

Srinagar, Apr 12: Two deaf judokas from Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council's Judo Academy, Rakhshinda Mehak and Vishal Khajuria, have been selected to represent India at the upcoming 2nd World Deaf Judo Championship in Turkestan, Kazakhstan from April 11-15, 2024.

This will be the second time the duo from Jammu and Kashmir union territory has earned the honour of representing the country at the prestigious global event for deaf judokas.

Mehak and Khajuria have been training rigorously at the MA Stadium Judo Centre under the guidance of Chief Judo Coach Suraj Bhan Singh. They are part of a six-member Indian contingent, which includes four women and two men, for the world championship.

While Mehak and Khajuria hail from J&K, the other members of the Indian team are two women from Maharashtra, one woman from Haryana, and one man from Uttar Pradesh.

The entire Indian squad departed for Kazakhstan on the evening of April 10. They have been sent by the Deaf Sports Council of India and sponsored by the Sports Authority of India.

Notably, in the previous edition of the World Deaf Judo Championship held in Paris, France in 2021, Rakhshinda Mehak had won a bronze medal for India.

All eyes will be on the determined Judokas from Jammu and Kashmir as they aim to make their mark and bring more laurels for the country at the global stage in Kazakhstan.