India’s Khushbu Darjada secured a silver medal in the girls’ -63kg judo event at the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, on Monday, delivering a standout performance on the international stage and bringing attention to the sporting journey of a young athlete from the Siddi tribe.
India’s Khushbu Darjada claimed the silver medal in the girls’ -63kg judo event at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, on Monday, adding a significant milestone to the country’s record in the sport.
The 15-year-old judoka, who belongs to the Siddi tribe, reached the final with a series of assured performances before Germany’s Jolina Reinhold defeated her by ippon in the gold-medal bout. The International Judo Federation confirmed Reinhold as champion and Darjada as runner-up in the -63kg category.
Darjada began her campaign in the round of 16 against Guinea’s Mamaissata Camara, earning a narrow 1-0 victory on yuko. She then produced a more decisive performance in the quarterfinals, defeating Morocco’s Abir Bouazzaoui by ippon. The Gujarat judoka carried that momentum into the semifinals, where she overcame Algeria’s Dounia Berrahoual, also by ippon, to book her place in the final.
A yuko is a scoring point awarded for an effective judo technique, while an ippon is the highest score and ends a contest immediately. Darjada’s two ippon victories demonstrated her ability to turn pressure into decisive results, while her opening win showed she could also manage a closely contested bout.
The silver medal is a notable achievement for Indian judo. Darjada is the second Indian judoka to win a medal at the Youth Olympic Games, following Thangjam Tababi Devi, who won silver in the women’s 44kg category at Buenos Aires 2018.
Darjada’s selection for Dakar followed strong performances in domestic and continental competition. The Judo Federation of India’s selection policy records her as the 2026 National Cadets Judo Championships gold medallist and an Asian Cadets Judo Championships bronze medallist in the under-63kg category.
Her achievement also brings attention to the Siddi community, an Afro-descendant community with longstanding roots in parts of India, including Gujarat. Darjada’s silver is more than a podium finish. Her run to the final, built on a combination of tactical control and decisive scoring, highlights the potential of India’s emerging judo talent.
It is also a reminder that wider access, sustained coaching and competitive opportunities can help young athletes from underrepresented communities reach the international stage. The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are being held from October 31 to November 13, with judo among the sports on the programme.
