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Injured twice, judoka back in the game

LUDHIANA: Judoka Pooja Chaudhary (25) has set an example for others to follow as she overcame a career-threatening injury and bounced back to centre stage.

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Anil Datt

Ludhiana, September 14

Judoka Pooja Chaudhary (25) has set an example for others to follow as she overcame a career-threatening injury and bounced back to centre stage.

After recovering from a surgery following knee injury — Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Pooja is now preparing for the ensuing national championships.

A native of Charkhi Dadri district in Haryana, Pooja is a Sub-Inspector with the Punjab Police posted in Ludhiana.

She took up the game at the age of nine when she was studying in Class V. She tasted success instantly when she secured a silver medal in the Sub-Junior Haryana Judo Championship in Ambala.

Though good in academics, she was encouraged to pursue a career in sports by her class teacher and she did not let her down. Pooja brought fame to the school in every competition she participated in.

Pooja suffered a knee injury (ACL) during a practice session at NIS, Patiala, in 2015, for which she had to undergo surgery. This forced her out of action for over six months.

During her treatment, Pooja started preparations for the competitive examinations and appeared for recruitment test held for jobs in the Punjab Police, wherein she bagged the 7th rank.

On her selection, Pooja underwent training at the Punjab Police Training Centre, Phillaur, which lasted for a year. This was followed by another training programme for three months at the Commando Training Centre, Bahadurgarh, near Patiala.

Pooja joined Ludhiana last year and during all this period (2015 to 2018), she remained out of action. Last year, Pooja sought permission from Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, the then Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, to continue with the game for which she had to visit the coaching centre on a regular basis and she was allowed to do so.

She resumed her training at the judo training centre at the multipurpose indoor hall of Guru Nanak Stadium, where Parveen Thakur of the Punjab Sports Department was her coach. Pooja got in the groove quickly as she won a bronze medal in the below 63-kg weight category in the All-India Police Games held from November 14 to 18 at Cuttack in Odisha. Early this year, Pooja secured a silver medal in the Senior National Judo Championship held at Vishakhapatnam. Besides, she also figured in the Punjab squad that won bronze in the team event. For her achievement, Pooja was selected to attend the national judo coaching camp, which started on February 6 at Bhopal in MP for the qualifying round matches to be held in Germany for the next Olympics.

Unfortunately, Pooja suffered a knee injury again (ACL) on her second foot that forced her to leave the camp midway. It took her six months to recover and she joined her training in the first week of September.

Pooja has been following a hectic training schedule to prepare herself for the forthcoming competitions which include Senior National Judo Championship, National Games and the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games.

Besides coach, Pooja owes her success to her mother Jeet Kaur and thanked her seniors at the place of posting and colleagues for their cooperation.

Her coach Parveen Thakur exuded confidence that she would be successful in future competitions as well.

An Inspiration 

  • Pooja Chaudhary took up the game at the age of nine when she was in Class V at Gramin Sthali Senior Secondary School, Charkhi Dadri, in 2003. She tasted success instantly when she secured a silver medal in the Sub-Junior Haryana Judo Championship held at Ambala.
  • Pooja won bronze medal in the below 52-kg weight category in the Junior National Judo Championship at Agra. 
  • In 2012, she bagged a bronze medal in the below 63-kg weight section in the Senior National Judo Championship held at Bhubaneswar in Odisha and clinched gold medal (below 57-kg) in the All-India Inter-Varsity Judo Championship held at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
  • Pooja got in the groove quickly as she won a bronze medal in the below 63-kg weight category in the All-India Police Games held from November 14 to 18 at Cuttack in Odisha.
  • Early this year, Pooja secured a silver medal in the Senior National Judo Championship held at Vishakhapatnam. Besides, she also figured in the Punjab squad that won bronze in the team event.
  • Unfortunately, Pooja suffered a knee injury again (ACL) on her second foot that forced her to leave the camp midway. It took her six months to recover and she joined her training in the first week of September.
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