India’s judo team faces another significant challenge ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Tulika Maan, who won a silver medal in the women’s 78kg category at the Birmingham 2022 Games, has been withdrawn from the squad due to a provisional suspension issued by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). Maan was seen as a key contender for a medal in Glasgow, but her journey has come to an abrupt halt following NADA’s identification of three whereabouts failures within a year.
Event Context
Just one day following the removal of Indian judoka Arun Kumar from the squad, the situation is becoming increasingly concerning for India’s representation at the Games. Competing in the men’s 73kg category, Arun was disqualified after failing an out-of-competition doping test.
Match Outlook
According to a judo coach who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity, “She has recorded three failures to report her whereabouts within a 12-month timeframe, prompting NADA to issue her a notice. Consequently, she will be removed from the team.”
The Indian judo team has yet to depart for Glasgow, where events are set to commence on July 31, with plans to leave for the Games on July 27.
The coach emphasized the importance of staying calm, stating, “I advise the entire team to remain relaxed. The pressure is palpable, especially for those competing for the first time. The newcomers, both male and female, are feeling the weight of expectations. Moreover, there is a strong anticipation in India for more weightlifting medals this time around. While the pressure exists, we will strive to set it aside and perform as we have trained. If we execute our skills effectively, we can certainly aim for medals in weightlifting. As for the outcomes in other events, that remains to be seen. However, the entire team is performing well, and we are committed to giving our best efforts.”
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Dilbagh Singh, an Indian weightlifter, recently had to leave Glasgow due to a reduction in the sport’s quota from 12 to 11 competitors. As reported by PTI, the federation learned about this change just a day prior.
A source revealed that Dilbagh, currently dealing with a back injury and missing training sessions during the preparatory camp in Birmingham, was withdrawn from the competition.
The lead-up to the Commonwealth Games 2026 has seen challenges for India, particularly with doping infractions affecting weightlifters. N Ajith (71kg), Sairaj Pardeshi (88kg), and Harcharan Singh (110kg) have faced bans for doping violations, while women’s weightlifter Vanshita Verma (86kg) has also been penalized for an anti-doping rule breach during the qualification phase.
Despite these challenges, Mirabai Chanu emphasized that the entire team remains focused on making their country proud.
