Nationwide Taekwondo 2016 Senior Gold Medalist Rodali Barua is the primary of Guwahati to be shortlisted within the prestigious Goal Asian Video games (TAG) scheme, a brand new initiative below the TOP (Goal Olympic Podium) initiation aimed toward making ready athletes for upcoming Asian Video games competitors.
Rodali Barua is the primary of Guwahati to be shortlisted within the prestigious TAG scheme. (REUTERS)
Rodali Barua, who started her Taekwondo journey in 2012 as an extracurricular exercise throughout faculty, shortly progressed to aggressive ranges after being noticed by coaches from the Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) throughout state championships. After profitable trials, she was chosen to coach at SAI Guwahati, marking the start of her skilled profession in Taekwondo.
Sharing about her optimistic outlook in school and the way it inspired her to start her journey of turning into some of the famend Taekwondo athletes, Rodali shares,”I started Taekwondo in school as an extracurricular activity. I remember participating in State championships where SAI coaches saw me and invited me for trials. I got selected in SAI Guwahati and from there my Taekwondo career professionally started,” she remembers.
Rodali Barua’s aggressive journey started nearly instantly, taking part in junior nationals in 2012 at age 16, and shortly after transitioning to senior nationals as she approached 17 years of age. The athlete has primarily competed within the heavyweight girls’s class (over 73 kg), with occasional participation within the below 73 kg class.
“From the very beginning I used to participate in over 73 KG women. That is heavyweight category,” she explains. “Once or twice, I have participated in under 73 KG when someone else had already been selected in heavyweight.”
A major breakthrough got here in 2016 when she secured her first gold medal on the Senior Nationals held in Visakhapatnam. Extra lately, she earned a bronze medal on the Asian Championship final 12 months, marking India’s first medal in a acknowledged worldwide Taekwondo event in a decade. This achievement performed a vital function in her choice for the TAG scheme.
“I got a call from a research officer who took some information regarding my previous achievements. Then suddenly I got to know that a new scheme is being introduced under TOPS for the Olympics. TAG is a new scheme that is Target Asian Games,” she shares. “I got selected because I won a medal in Asian championship last year. After a very long gap, after 10 years, we got a medal in a recognized international tournament.”
Trying forward, the athlete is specializing in preparation for the Asian Video games, the place she’s going to compete within the 67 kg class. “For now, the only goal is Asian Games. In Asian Games, there are only 5 weight categories. Under 73 and over 73 category will be merged and it will be plus 67. I will be participating in over 67 KG,” she explains.
As a part of her preparation, she’s going to quickly be coaching at a authorities establishment, with teaching from a long-time mentor. “I preferred the coach whom I trained with for a very long time and because of whom I am here. The government has approved him as my coach now,” she states.
Her upcoming plans embrace participation within the Open Worldwide Championships to construct rating factors.
“Our sport is on ranking basis, seating basis. The new system rules have changed, so everyone’s ranking has been dismissed. It will start from zero from now onwards,” she notes. “From now I have to participate in the Open Championships, Open international tournaments to get ranking so that in future in Asian Games, if there is seating, I’ll get benefits from my ranking.”
Moreover, she intends to undertake coaching overseas after a few months of energy and conditioning work. “My planning is I’ll go abroad after one or two months. I’ll train there first. Then from there I’ll be traveling for Open International tournaments starting from July,” she shares. “Right now, I’m doing strength and conditioning. I want to develop my fitness first so that I can train at that level with players of international caliber.”
The athlete’s choice for the TAG scheme represents an vital step in her journey and highlights the federal government’s dedication to supporting promising skills of their pursuit of worldwide success in sports activities.