Khushbu Rajakbai Darjada Secures Silver in Judo at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
Khushbu's Remarkable Achievement in Judo
In a stellar performance at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games held in Senegal, India's Khushbu Rajakbai Darjada earned a silver medal in the women's -63kg judo category after a tough final against Germany's Jolina Reinhold.
This marks Khushbu's second international medal this year, having previously secured a bronze in the same weight class at the Asian Cadet Championships in Amman, Jordan.
Originating from Somnath in Gujarat, Khushbu has made history by becoming the second Indian judoka to win a medal at the Youth Olympic Games, following Manipur's Tababi Devi, who claimed silver in 2018.
On her path to the finals, Khushbu showcased her skills by defeating Mamaissata Camara from Guinea in the opening round, followed by a victory over Morocco's Abir Bouazzaoui in the quarterfinals. She then triumphed against Algeria's Dounia Berrahoual in the semifinals to secure her spot in the gold medal match.
Reflecting on her experience, Khushbu expressed her readiness to face the seasoned Jolina Reinhold, stating, "I was mentally and physically prepared to face experienced Jolina Reinhold of Germany in the final. Competing in Dakar was a fantastic global-level experience for me."
As the youngest among seven siblings, Khushbu began her judo journey at a local academy in Somnath in 2021. She reminisced about her early days, saying, "Winning district-level competitions motivated me to continue pursuing judo."
Two years later, she was selected for the Vijayi Bharat Foundation (VBF), a high-performance training center in Ahmedabad, where she honed her skills under coach Lal Krishan Baghel.
Baghel noted, "Better training and quality sparring partners at the VBF played a crucial role in Khushbu's success in Dakar."
Despite her recent achievement, Khushbu has no intention of taking a break. Instead, she is focused on her upcoming competition, the Khelo India event, stating, "I doubt I will get leave to meet my parents as I have to compete in the Khelo India competition."