Fifteen-Year-Old Khushbu Darjada Wins Historic Silver at Youth Olympics in Dakar

Fifteen-year-old judoka Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada won a silver medal in the girls' 63 kg category at the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal. This is India's second-ever judo medal at the Youth Olympics, following Tababi Devi's silver in the 44 kg event in 2018.

Path to Podium

On her way to the final, Khushbu beat Guinea's Mamaissata Camara 1-0. She then defeated Morocco's Abir Bouazzaoui and Algeria's Dounia Berrahoual by ippon. She lost the final by ippon to Germany's Jolina Reinhold. This marks her second international medal, following a bronze at the Asian Cadet Championships earlier this year, and a prior bronze at the U20 junior nationals when she was just 14.

Family and Roots

As she stood on the podium, her home village of Surva in Gujarat's Gir Somnath district erupted in celebration. Her father Rajakbhai works at the Government Circuit House in Junagadh. Khushbu took up judo because of her elder sister Shahin Darjada, the junior Asian champion. Both sisters belong to the Siddi community of Gir Somnath, which traces its roots to the Bantu communities of Africa.

Coaching and Development

Lal Krishan Baghel coaches the sisters at the Vijayi Bharat Center in Ahmedabad alongside Georgian coach Lasha Kizilashvilli. Baghel scouted Khushbu in 2022 after a recommendation when she was 11. Baghel also had to convince the family to turn down marriage proposals so the sisters could focus entirely on sports. Three international medallists from the Siddi community now train at the Ahmedabad center, including Shahin, Khushbu, and Rohit Majgul, who represented India at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The program also runs a feeder center in Gir Somnath training over 70 kids aged 11 to 15.

Context

Youth multi-sport events like the Youth Olympics serve as crucial stepping stones for teenage athletes transitioning into senior international competition. Specialized training centers across India increasingly focus on regional talent scouting to build pipelines for combat sports. The Siddi community's success in judo highlights how targeted coaching can unlock athletic potential in specific regions.