There is a 16-member senior team preparing to take on the challenge, and with the juniors’ show, this is a tough call to take. The seniors’ competition is also underway at the same venue.

In the junior competition, greenhorn O Bidya Laxmi (44kg) beat Michelle Lourens of South Africa to win her maiden international title and set the tone for the Indian team. The Judo Federation of India (JFI) has said that Garima Chaudhary (women 63 kg), Sandeep (men 56 kg) and Kh Yaima Singh (men 81 kg) also gave good account of themselves to win titles in their respective groups.

Of the eight-member junior team, Manjeet Nandal (66 kg) and Rajinder Singh (90 kg) also won silver and bronze, respectively.

Impressive display by some juniors have earned themselves a promotion to participate in the seniors’ tourney as well. The JFI is fielding Garima, Asian junior medallists Manjeet, Yaima and Sandeep in the senior group too. “It will give them good exposure,” said JFI secretary Mukesh Kumar here. The junior national squad, last year, was also among the medallists in the Asian judo championships held in Hyderabad. The team had collected seven medals including one gold two silver and four bronze.

For Mauritius, in the senior group, the JFI is fielding 16-member team including eight in the women category.

Much is expected of them too. “We hope our medal tally will further swell at the end of the competition,” added the JFI secretary.