Asian Games 2023: India Hoping to Shine in its Jiu-jitsu Debut

By being a part of this competition, the Indian Jiu-jitsu team is hoping to inspire others to take up the sport and continue to build its profile on the continent.

As the world looks forward to the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Indian jiu-jitsu athletes are gearing up to debut at the highly prestigious event. For India, introducing jiu-jitsu at the Games marks a new dawn in the country's sporting history.

As India aims to leave a lasting impression on the global stage, its jiu-jitsu athletes want to make the most of their first-ever participation in the sport's category at the Asian Games. The Ju-jitsu Association of India is optimistic that their squad will be able to deliver an inspiring performance and emerge as one of the powerhouses in this martial art category.

What is ju-jitsu?

For those unfamiliar with ju-jitsu, the sport is based on techniques that emphasise grappling, throwing, joint locks, and submission holds. It requires a high degree of technical expertise, speed, and agility. The sport has two categories: ne-waza, which focuses on ground grappling techniques, and tachi-waza, which is the art of stand-up grappling.

Before the competition starts, let's look at the most critical players expected to light up the stage for India.

Sidharth Singh

The greatest ju-jitsu player from India till now, the epitome of excellence, is the Delhi guy Sidharth Singh. He left a lucrative job abroad to focus on his passion, which was ju-jitsu. He now represents Brazilian Ju-Jitsu in India, and his mixed martial arts school has consistently produced some of the greatest fighters. He has been the ju-jitsu national champion for ten consecutive years. He will be competing in the 69 kg category at the Asian Games. He won silver in the World Ju-jitsu Championship in 2021.

Kamal Singh

Kamal Singh, 21, from Dineshpur town in Udham Singh Nagar district, overcame all hurdles to obtain a desired spot in the Indian Jiu-Jitsu squad for the Asian Games. Given that his father is unemployed, his mother, Savitri Devi, is a labourer at the Gadarpur Grain Market, and his older brother is a tempo driver, Kamal comes from a financially impoverished family; this is one fairy tale that every sports enthusiast will heart.

Anwesha Deb

Anwesha will be fighting in the <48 kg category of the Asian Games. She is the product of the academy of Sidhharth Singh. Sidhharth is also highly hopeful of her chances of progressing to a medal-winning situation in the tournament. She, along with her mentor, won a medal in an international ju-jitsu tournament.

Anupama Swain

Anupama Swain is one of the most experienced participants on board for the Asian Games. She broke through the news channels when she won bronze in the Asian Championships. Later, in 2019, she won the bronze again at the World Martial Arts Mastership. She again achieved victory at the Asian Championship just this year.

Immediate and long-term motives

While there is a long road ahead, the Indian jiu-jitsu team looks forward to competing with their worldwide counterparts. They understand the challenges and obstacles that lie ahead, but they also know that they have the necessary tools and resources to compete at the highest level.

Besides the chance to showcase their skills, the Indian jiu-jitsu players are excited about what the games mean for their sport. As mentioned earlier, jiu-jitsu is a relatively new sport in the Asian Games, and having a chance to participate is a significant milestone for the discipline.