Sushila Devi Likmabam’s path to judo stardom is a testament to unyielding grit. Hailing from Imphal’s Heingang Mayei Leikai, born February 1, 1995, she was mentored by her judo champion uncle, Likmabam Dinith. At age seven, her training began at Khuman Lampak, setting the stage for a career marked by both hardship and heroism.
From 2007-2010, she honed her skills at Manipur’s SAI center before shifting to Patiala. Financial woes plagued her formative phase—her father’s modest income left little for travel or nutrition. Competitions were a gamble; diets improvised from scraps. But Sushila’s spirit never wavered.
Turning points included SAI hostel support and scholarships that stabilized her life. This paved the way for international acclaim. In 2014, Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver in 48kg. Gold crowned her at 2019 South Asian Games. Silvers from Hong Kong Asia Open in 2018-19 followed suit.
As India’s sole judoka at Tokyo 2020, she competed bravely despite an early exit. Her 2022 Commonwealth silver reaffirmed her prowess. With eyes on Olympic gold, Sushila’s story rallies young athletes, showing how overcoming poverty fuels extraordinary success in sport.