India’s promising judoka Khushbu Rajakbai Darjada won silver medal in the women’s -63kg at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. “I am excited to have won silver for my country at the Youth Olympic Games,” Khushbu said in post-match interaction. The competition was held late Monday evening in Dakar.

In the summit clash, the Indian judo player lost to Jolina Reinhold of Germany to settle for silver medal. It was Khusbhu's second medal at the international level this year. 

Hailing from Gujarat region, Khushbu on Monday became the second Indian judo player to have won a medal at the Youth Olympic Games. Tababi Devi Thanjam from Manipur was the first Indian judo player to win a medal, a silver at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

Khushbu had exuded confidence of winning a medal at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games. “My training had gone on expected lines in the build-up to the global competition. I was mentally and physically prepared to give my best,” she added. 

The Indian player started her campaign by outplaying Mamaissata Camara of Guinea in the first round. She got the better of Abir Bouazzaoui of Morocco in the quarterfinal. Khusbhu beat Dounia Berrahoual of Algeria in the semifinal to stay on track to advance to the gold medal round. . “It was a great experience for me to compete at the global level and win silver in Dakar,” claims Khushbu.

Earlier this year she had won bronze (-63kg) at the Asian Cadet Championships held in Amman, Jordan.