Indian Para-Judo Star Kokila Kaushik Shines at Asian Para Games

Jind, October 25 (Daily Kiran) : Indian para-judo athlete Kokila Kaushik has made her mark at the 2026 Asian Para Games, securing a silver medal in the women’s J2 -52 kilogram category. Her success is the result of years of hard work, family support, and the unwavering commitment of her father, Krishna Kumar Kaushik.

Kokila began her judo journey about seven to eight years ago. In the previous Asian Para Games, she won a bronze medal, but this time, she aimed for gold. Her sights are now set on the 2028 Paralympics, where she aspires to bring home a gold medal for her country.

Residing in Jind, Haryana, Kokila shared that she started practicing judo in 2018 under her coach Munawwar Anjar. After a long wait, she finally had the opportunity to compete and improve her performance from bronze to silver. However, she acknowledges that winning the gold will require adjustments to her gameplay and strategy.

Kokila drew inspiration from her sister, who was the first in the family to take up judo. Initially, their father was hesitant due to concerns about injuries, but after her brother also joined the sport, Kokila was encouraged to pursue her passion.

Initially, the family had little knowledge about para sports and competitions for visually impaired athletes. Over time, they realized that Kokila could build a career in judo. She credits her success to her family, coach, and the nation, emphasizing that girls can excel in sports if they receive equal support from their families.

Kokila’s father, Krishna Kumar Kaushik, faced significant financial challenges to help his daughter become an international-level athlete. He revealed that the costs for her training and participation in tournaments amounted to approximately 4 to 4.5 million rupees. At one point, he was even prepared to sell his property to cover these expenses.

As a lecturer, Krishna noted that travel costs for competitions surged during the pandemic, leading him to take a loan of 1 million rupees from a cooperative bank. Despite this, the need for funds continued as Kokila pursued further competitions.

He also intervened in issues concerning cash rewards for visually impaired para-judo athletes in Haryana, resulting in Kokila receiving 1.05 million rupees, which provided significant financial relief and postponed the need to sell their home.

Krishna Kumar Kaushik dreams of his daughter winning a gold medal at the Paralympics. He believes that if a visually impaired athlete can reach international levels through hard work, other children should also be encouraged to pursue their dreams.

He urges parents to trust their daughters and provide them with opportunities in sports. Kokila’s story exemplifies how talent and hard work, combined with family support, play a crucial role in an athlete’s success. She is now focused on refining her strategy to achieve her goal of winning a gold medal for India at the 2028 Paralympics.