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Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF) judoka Irengbam Kalpana Devi bagged Gold in the Women's 63 kg category at the Senior National Judo Championships 2025-26 held in Imphal, as per a release from the Judo Federation of India and the VBF.
Kalpana stunned the judo fraternity by defeating Himanshi Tokas, the former Junior World No 1 and current Jr World No 3, in the semifinals of the event. She carried that momentum into the final, where she overpowered Unnati Sharma, the Senior Asian Championship silver medalist, with a commanding performance to win Gold. Kalpana, who hails from Manipur, has been training under Coach Lal Krishan Baghel at VBF's High Performance Centre in Ahmedabad since mid-2024. "I am really happy to win Gold today. It has all been through the hard work and dedication of my team at VBF, so first of all, I would like to thank Vijayi Bharat Foundation and my Coach Lal Krishan Baghel for what I have achieved today. I will now aim to continue this momentum and reach many more milestones for our country," said Kalpana. According to Coach Lal Krishan Baghel, Kalpana's preparation for the Senior Nationals focused on elite-level gripping strategies (kumi-kata), transition speed from tachi-waza to ne-waza, match-specific randori, anaerobic endurance, and decision-making under fatigue. Special emphasis was placed on neutralising the strengths of top-ranked opponents and converting small scoring opportunities into match-winning advantages. "This gold medal is not accidental. It is the outcome of disciplined planning, technical precision, and belief in the process," said Coach Baghel. "Kalpana followed every session with commitment, and she trusted the VBF even when the training was extremely demanding," he added. Kalpana's gold medal performance significantly strengthens her position among India's top senior judokas in the 63 kg category and highlights the growing impact of scientific, performance-driven coaching in Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF). Experts believe this victory could mark the beginning of her rise on the international circuit. Other VBF Judokas making their mark at the event were, Rohit Majgul, who also dominated in his weight category to win gold in Men's 66 kg category. Shahin Darjada, who won Silver in Women's 57kg, Anurag Sagar, Silver in Men's 60 kg, Max Laishram, Silver in Men's 73 kg, Simran, Bronze in Women's 48 kg, Wanglen Angom Bronze in Men's, 66 kg, Reva Rawat, Bronze in Women's - 63kg category. (ANI)
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