By Arun Amakcham
IMPHAL, October 17: 14 year old Ph Aruna Chanu who had recently clinched the National Sub Junior (minus 40 kg) Judo championship title at Guwahati has set her sights firmly on an Olympic medal.
Speaking to IFP today after her recent Gold winning effort at the National Judo championship which was held from October 6-9 at Guwahati, the 14 year old said her failure to get a medal in her last national championship in 2010 at Chattisgarh inspired her to this year’s Gold.
The NSA, Khuman Lampak student was also firm on bringing home an Olympic medal and said though the state had many Judokas representing the country at the Olympics like Tombi in the past, none had been fortunate enough to bring home a medal.
She continued that she was admitted into the National Sports Academy at Khuman Lampak in the year 2009.
She further expressed that she took up Judo only after entering the school under the guidance of coaches Gunamani and Kheroda.
Aruna had defeated judokas from Jhanrkhand, Punjab, Kerala before reaching her final bout which was against a judoka from Delhi at the national championships.
According to the 14 year old judoka, the toughest match in this year’s championship was the semi-final against the Kerala judoka.
It may be mentioned here that the Manipur tea which had participated in the national championship had 19 judokas. The team took 7 golds, 2 silvers and 4 broze to become the Overall Team Champion.
Out of the 19 judokas, six were from NSA with Aruna taking a gold and another bringing home a bronze.
Ph Aruna Chanu who is a class VIII student of NSA is the daughter of Phamdom Tomchou Singh and Ph (o) Ibemcha Chanu of Tharoija Mayai Leikai.