Four SAI National Centre of Excellence Bhopal judokas selected for Commonwealth Games
Bhopal, July 22
The Sports Authority of India, Central Regional Centre, Bhopal, celebrated a milestone as four judokas from the SAI National Centre of Excellence, Bhopal, were selected to represent India at the Commonwealth Games 2026, to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.
A release said the selected athletes include Asmita Dey, who will compete in the women's -48kg category, and Shraddha Chopade in the women's -52kg category. In the men's section, Avtar Singh has been chosen for the -100kg category, while Yash Ghangas will represent India in the +100kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
Their selection is a testament to their dedication, discipline, and exceptional performances at the national and international levels, the release said, adding that it also reflects the world-class coaching, scientific support, and high-performance training ecosystem available at SAI NCOE Bhopal, which continues to nurture athletes capable of excelling on the global stage.
Representing India at the Commonwealth Games is one of the highest honours for any athlete, and the selection of four judokas from SAI CRC Bhopal highlights the centre's growing stature as one of the country's leading hubs for judo excellence.
Abhisek Singh Chauhan, Regional Director, SAI CRC Bhopal, congratulated the athletes, saying their selection reflects years of hard work and the collective efforts of coaches, sports science experts, and support staff. He expressed confidence that they would perform strongly and make India proud at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
"The selection of four judokas from SAI NCOE Bhopal for the Commonwealth Games 2026 is a proud moment for the entire SAI family. Their achievement reflects years of hard work, determination, and the collective efforts of our coaches, sports science experts, and support staff. We are confident they will compete with courage and make the nation proud on the international stage," he said.
The release said that the success of these athletes has been made possible through the dedicated efforts of SAI's experienced coaching team, integrated sports science support, including strength & conditioning, physiotherapy, sports psychology, nutrition, recovery management, and the state-of-the-art infrastructure available at SAI NCOE Bhopal. This holistic high-performance environment continues to produce athletes capable of competing with the world's best.
— ANI
Reader Comments
So happy to see Bhopal getting recognition! 🎉 The focus on scientific support like sports psychology and nutrition is exactly what our athletes need. Hope they bring home medals. But we also need to ensure that grassroots talent from smaller towns gets similar opportunities. Congratulations to all four judokas and their coaches!
Great to see the Commonwealth Games still going strong, even with Glasgow hosting. Judo is such a technical sport and these athletes have worked incredibly hard to get here. Let's hope they get proper funding and exposure before 2026. India needs more such success stories to inspire the next generation.
Congratulations to the team! But we must also question why only four judokas from one centre? There are many talented judokas across India. Need a more equitable distribution of resources and SAI centres. But for now, let's celebrate this achievement and hope for medals in Glasgow. The holistic training approach is finally showing results.
Asmita Dey and Shraddha Chopade are role models for young girls in Madhya Pradesh! 💪 Despite limited resources compared to Western countries, our athletes are breaking barriers. The support staff really deserve credit too. Let's hope the government continues to invest in such centres across India. Proud moment for Bhopal!
Honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. Commonwealth Games used to be a big deal, but now many top countries don't even send their best athletes. Still, any recognition for Indian judo is welcome. Hope these athletes use this
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