Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Senior Men’s and Women’s Judo Championship witnessed intense competition as it unfolded in Lucknow from March 21 to March 23, 2025. Organized under the directives of the Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate (letter number 5360/Vibha. Prati./2024-25, dated March 10, 2025), the championship brought together 288 talented judo players from 18 divisions across the state. The tournament served as a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and determination in various weight categories, further promoting judo in Uttar Pradesh.
The men’s division saw some exhilarating matches across multiple weight categories. In the under-66 kg category, Udayveer from Agra clinched the gold, while Anmol from Bareilly secured second place. Shiv from Gorakhpur and Vishal from Saharanpur shared third place. The under-73 kg category saw Amit from Meerut emerge as the winner, with Abhishek from Varanasi finishing second. Uday from Saharanpur and Vaibhav from Gorakhpur secured the third-place spots. Prashant from Meerut dominated the under-81 kg category, with Akash from Lucknow taking silver, while Ayush from Kanpur and Abdul from Saharanpur shared third place.
The under-90 kg category featured a strong performance by Om Prakash from Varanasi, who claimed the top position, followed by Vicky from Saharanpur in second place. Vivek from Gorakhpur and Abdul from Saharanpur secured the two third-place positions. The intense level of competition in the men’s category highlighted the growing talent and interest in judo across various regions of Uttar Pradesh.
In the women’s division, the under-48 kg category saw Anjali from Meerut secure the gold medal, with Lavi from Bareilly finishing second. Shalini from Aligarh and Ikra from Ayodhya claimed third place. The under-52 kg category witnessed Sakshi from Saharanpur clinching the top spot, followed by Bharti from Aligarh in second place, while Reenu from Kanpur and Susam from Ayodhya finished third.
Amrita from Prayagraj showcased her prowess in the under-57 kg category, winning gold, while Pragya from Saharanpur finished in second place. Priyanka from Gorakhpur and Kusum from Prayagraj shared third place. The under-63 kg category saw Chanchal from Moradabad taking the gold medal, with Himani from Meerut finishing second. Sakshi from Gorakhpur and Ishrat from Aligarh secured third place. In the under-44 kg category, Aakriti from Moradabad emerged victorious, followed by Kajal from Meerut in second place. Sejal from Gorakhpur and Milan from Kanpur secured third place.
The tournament was a grand success, providing a competitive stage for aspiring judo players while also reinforcing the efforts of the Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate in promoting the sport. The high level of participation and spirited performances by the athletes demonstrated the growing popularity of judo in the state. The championship not only identified emerging talents but also served as a stepping stone for players aiming to compete at higher levels.
