Sole Judo representative from India, Garima aims to strike in rich in London

New Delhi - India’s sole representative at the London Olympics from judo, Garima Chaudhary said on Thursday that it was a dream come true and that she had set sights on bringing back an Olympic medal.

Garima made the cut in the 63kg category based on the latest rankings released by the International Judo Federation (IJF). She finished 88th in the latest rankings after her creditable seventh position at the Asian Judo Championships in Tashkent (Uzbekistan).

“It’s a dream come true for any athlete to compete at the biggest stage like the Olympics. I am fortunate to make the grade,” she said. “My job is not done though, I am to get back an Olympic medal,” she added.

Her coach Jivan Sharma praised Garima for her hard work and determination.

“She has great will power and has done a lot of hard work to reach this level. She is a very positive and confident person,” he said.

“She is a naturally talented athlete and from the very beginning we have had high hopes for her.”

Jivan lamented the lack of time in preparing for the olympics.

“We would have prepared better if we had known she would qualify. She just about made the cut.”

“Earlier, she used to get over-awed by the Japanese and the Korean fighters. Now because she has faced many of them in international events, she has become used to them,” he said.