Govt to bear full cost of judo team's trip to Hungary

NEW DELHI: The full cost of Indian team's trip to the Grand Slam 2020 judo competition in Budapest will be borne by government, the Sports Authority of India has said. The five judokas, two women and three men players, will leave for the competition on October 19. They will have to produce at least two Covid-19 negative individual medical certificates (PCR test made maximum five days before arrival and taken 48 hours apart) upon arrival at Hungary.

The women's team includes 25-year-old Sushila Devi (48kg) from Manipur and 22-year-old Tulika Mann (78 kg) of Delhi. The men's team comprises 28-year-old Olympian Avtar Singh (100 kg), 22-year-old TOPS developmental group athlete Jasleen Singh Saini (66 kg) from Punjab and 24-year-old Vijay Yadav (60 kg). The five players will be accompanied by coach Jiwan Sharma for the length of the competition in Hungary.

"My aim is to get a medal for India in the Olympics and I'm very confident. I am also very thankful to the government for the support. Even if there is hard work from our side but no government support, we can do nothing. So, I am very thankful they are bearing the expenses for our trip," mentioned Jasleen.

Around 645 competitors from across 81 countries are slated to participate in the IJF event in Budapest. IANS

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