Alisha Subudhi Makes History with Bronze at WKF Series A Karate Championship

Alisha Subudhi has made history by winning a bronze medal at the WKF Series A Karate Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve this feat. Supported by the Sports Authority of India's TAGG initiative, Alisha's victory underscores the significance of backing non-mainstream sports. The SAI has established a robust high-performance ecosystem to nurture athletes, including funding for national camps and management of selection trials. As major competitions like the Asian Games approach, continued support is expected to be vital for athletes in disciplines where India has not previously excelled.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 14, 2026, 08:33 IST

Historic Achievement in Karate

Alisha Subudhi's remarkable achievement of securing a bronze medal at the WKF Series A Karate Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, highlights the importance of ongoing support for less mainstream sports. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has been instrumental in this regard, particularly through its Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) initiative, which focuses on combat sports like Karate, an area where India has historically struggled to achieve significant success on the global stage.

Alisha's Groundbreaking Win

With the backing of the TAGG scheme, Alisha became the first Indian woman to earn a medal at a Karate 1 - Series A event, triumphing over her Croatian rival with a decisive score of 8-0 in the bronze medal match.

SAI's High-Performance Framework

SAI has established a comprehensive high-performance framework through targeted funding, elite coaching, and rigorous national training camps. Recently, SAI allocated Rs. 1.2 Crore to support a senior National Coaching Camp in Lucknow from November to December 2025, which included 48 athletes. This 45-day camp, held at the SAI Regional Centre in Lucknow, emphasized match simulations, tactical training, psychological conditioning, and recovery strategies. Alisha was among the participants.

Gratitude for Support

"I am especially grateful to TAGG for their financial assistance and for organizing an outstanding national camp in Lucknow that prepared us for the WKF Series A," expressed the 23-year-old Alisha.

Ensuring Continuous Athlete Development

Due to the lack of a recognized National Sports Federation for Karate, SAI took proactive measures to ensure continuous athlete development by forming a Karate Organising Committee. This committee oversees selection trials, training camps, and international exposure, thereby ensuring that athletes have clear performance pathways.

Management of National Selection Trials

The Karate Organising Committee also conducted Open National Selection Trials for the Senior Category from October 12-14 at the SAI Training Centre located on the NEHU campus in Shillong. These trials were fully managed by the committee, adhering to international standards, anti-doping regulations, and utilizing videography for evaluation.

Looking Ahead

As significant events like the Asian Games approach later this year, continued support from TAGG and SAI-led national camps is anticipated to be crucial, particularly in non-mainstream sports where India has yet to establish a strong international presence.