Indian Judokas Head to Japan for Crucial Asian Games and World Championships Preparation

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is facilitating a crucial overseas training stint for India’s senior judo team at Tsukuba University in Japan, as the country's judokas step up preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and the World Judo Championships in Baku.

A 14-member Indian delegation is currently participating in an International Training (Pre-Games) programme at Tsukuba University, with the camp scheduled to continue until October 2. The delegation comprises 11 judokas and three coaches, providing India's athletes with an opportunity to train in the host country ahead of the Asian Games.

The exposure comes at an important point in the international calendar, with the Asian Games scheduled from September 19 to October 4, followed immediately by the World Judo Championships in Baku from October 4 to 11.

Among the 11 Indian judokas currently training at Tsukuba University, three are members of India's Asian Games team. They are Asmita Dey, who will compete in the women's -48kg category, Yamini Mourya, competing in the women's -57kg category, and Takhellambam Inunganbi, who will compete in the women's -70kg category.

Asmita is scheduled to take the mat on September 30, while Yamini and Inunganbi will compete on October 1 at the Aichi International Arena, also known as the IG Arena, in Nagoya. For the three athletes, the Japan camp provides preparation in the country where the Asian Games are being hosted. It also allows them to train and adjust to the environment before moving into competition.

Asmita enters the Asian Games campaign with additional momentum after winning gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in the women's -48kg category.

11 Judokas Included in Training Programme

The Indian delegation at Tsukuba University features one male judoka and 10 female athletes. The men's squad includes Harsh Singh, who competes in the -60kg category.

The women's contingent comprises Asmita Dey (-48kg), Shraddha K Chopade (-52kg), L Nungshithoi Chanu (-52kg), Yamini Mourya (-57kg), Linthoi Chanambam (-63kg), Unnati Sharma (-63kg), Himanshi Tokas (-63kg), Takhelambam Inunganbi (-70kg), KH Taibanganbi (-70kg) and Ishroop Narang (-78kg). The coaching staff consists of Jiwan Kumar Sharma, Birender Singh and Rajwinder Kaur.

The size and composition of the delegation underline the importance of the Japan stint not only for the immediate Asian Games campaign but also for the World Championships that follow.

Complete Asian Games Coverage

The Asian Games will be followed almost immediately by the World Judo Championships in Baku, scheduled from October 4 to 11. A total of 10 Indian judokas one male and nine female athletes are set to compete at the World Championships.

The overlapping schedules make the Japan exposure particularly relevant for the athletes who will compete at both events. Training in Japan provides the Indian team with an opportunity to maintain its preparation while remaining close to the Asian Games venue before the squad moves on to the next major international assignment.

The World Championships represent another opportunity for Indian judokas to test themselves against the strongest competition in international judo.

The overseas exposure programme has been sanctioned under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) scheme. The Judo Federation of India is responsible for coordinating the foreign exposure, while SAI is facilitating the international training opportunity as part of the broader support being extended to India's Asian Games-bound athletes. Such overseas exposure camps form an important component of preparation for major multi-sport events, allowing athletes to train in international environments and access high-level competition preparation.

For the Indian judokas, the Tsukuba University camp also carries a practical advantage. With the Asian Games being held in Japan, spending time training in the host country during the final phase of preparation gives the athletes an opportunity to acclimatise before their competitions.

A Crucial Final Phase for Indian Judo

The coming weeks will be demanding for India's judo contingent. With the Asian Games and World Championships scheduled almost back-to-back, athletes and coaches will have to manage competition preparation, recovery and travel carefully. For Asmita Dey, Yamini Mourya and Takhellambam Inunganbi, the immediate focus will be the Asian Games, where they will look to make the most of their opportunity on the continental stage.

For the wider group training at Tsukuba University, the Japan camp serves as an important final preparation block before the World Championships in Baku. SAI's overseas exposure initiative gives India's judokas the opportunity to prepare in a high-level international setting at a critical point in the season. With major competitions arriving in quick succession, the Tsukuba camp could prove an important part of India's preparation as its judokas target strong performances at both the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the Baku World Judo Championships.