CityweliveIn a modest room in Gurdaspur, far removed from the spotlight of grand arenas, a quiet transformation is taking place — led by a group of determined young judokas. The grit and endurance these girls display through sweat and struggle today is forging the resilience they will carry into the future. Once perceived as delicate, they now tackle opponents with fearless accuracy. After achieving remarkable success by producing 40 international and over a hundred national-level male judokas, the coaches at the renowned Shaheed Bhagat Singh Centre decided it was wise to channel their judo expertise into identifying and nurturing female talent.
The legacy of Rani Lakshmibai, a key figure in India’s 1857 uprising, will now inspire the newly formed training centre. It was the collective decision of the girls and their mentors to name the facility in honour of the iconic warrior.
Head coach Amarjit Shastri put in considerable effort to persuade the administration of the nearby government girls’ school — just a few steps away from the boys’ centre — to allow the use of a room for training. Motivated by the boys’ centre’s achievements, the school promptly agreed and opened up a space. “If I can produce Olympians from a place that lacks proper mats, infrastructure, or even basic amenities, what’s to stop me from creating champions from just a room?” said Shastri with conviction.
Since its inauguration by DEO Rajesh Sharma in June last year, the girls’ centre has begun showing promising results. Numerous girls aged 10 to 18 are consistently earning medals in junior and sub-junior level tournaments. Most of them come from economically disadvantaged and lower-middle-class backgrounds.
Their coaches — former judoka Balwinder Kaur and NIS-certified Atul Kumar — instill in them two key values: first, strive to surpass your own limits, not just outdo your rivals; second, it’s okay not to win a medal, because stepping onto the mat already makes you braver than those who didn’t dare to compete. These are refined principles of wisdom.
One standout among them is Niswanjit Kaur, a rising star. Despite her young age, her expertise in throws, holds, and striking techniques has begun to draw attention from judokas at nearby centres, many of whom come just to observe and learn from her.
