More than a decade ago, Inunganbi Takhellambam would spend nearly three days travelling to age-group national competitions without a reserved train berth, often sitting on the floor beside the washrooms.Along with fellow judokas from Manipur, she would first travel to Dimapur before boarding a train to Kolkata. From there, another train would take them to competition venues across the country, often after another two days on the rails.Those arduous journeys are never far from her mind as she prepares for the biggest competition of her career — Commonwealth Games.“I felt extremely excited when I realised I had qualified. It is my first-ever Commonwealth Games, and I felt all my hard work and efforts had finally paid off,” the 22-year-old, who will compete in the women’s 70kg category on Saturday, told TOI.The Manipuri judoka heads to Glasgow carrying the confidence of becoming the first Indian in 13 years to win a medal at Asian Judo Championships. Yet, she is careful not to get carried away.“Winning the bronze at Asian Championships gave me a lot of confidence because it came after such a long gap for India. But the Commonwealth Games will be a different challenge. I want to stay focused, work harder and give my best on the competition day,” she said.The past year, however, tested her resilience. In June 2024, Inunganbi underwent an arthroscopic medial meniscectomy following a knee injury. The rehabilitation that followed delayed her return to competition, but with the support of the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), where she trains under coach Baye Diawara, she fought her way back after overcoming yet another injury setback, having also suffered one in 2018.She has since stepped up her preparations, including a training stint in France.“My preparation has been different this time. I am currently training at ASJJ Judo Club, Paris, and have been working on my fitness, technique and tactical preparation,” she said.Inunganbi also likes to study the draw before competitions to understand her opponents’ strengths. “I like to know about my opponents beforehand because it helps me understand their playing style. But once the competition starts, I focus on one bout at a time,” she said.The memories of those early train journeys, however, continue to drive her.“I still remember the difficulties I faced when I started judo. Those memories remind me of how far I have come. They motivate me to fight hard and never give up,” she added.The Asian bronze which she won in Ordos, China, in April, has brought recognition and heightened expectations, something she embraces rather than fears.“I have gained more recognition, and the medal gave both my coach and me the belief that the work we are doing is paying off. But my goals are much bigger,” she said. “Expectations have increased, but I see them as motivation rather than pressure. I trust my preparation and my goal is always to give my best on the mat.”Among the competitors she is keen to test herself against is Australia’s Aoife Coughlan, the current world No. 2 and former world No. 1 in her weight category.For someone who once spent days travelling across the country without a reserved train seat, however, the journey has always been about taking one step — or one bout — at a time.
