Anaya Siddiqui (second left) poses with the officials during the presentation ceremony.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

National judo player Anaya Siddiqui has broken her own record by winning a silver medal in Noida, India, after being placed in the second position across Indian CBSE schools in the Under 17, Above 90 weight category.

The event took place recently. “Noida became more than a location; it became a symbol of my initiation into the grand tapestry of national-level competitions,” Anaya said on her return to the UAE.

A CBSE High School Certificate student at GEMS New Millennium School (NMS’25 - Grade 11) she has dedicated the past eight years of her life to the discipline of judo.

Her journey in this martial art has been marked by unwavering commitment and relentless passion; people have remarked on her athletic prowess as evident in the fluidity of her movements on the judo mat. She has won recognition for seamlessly combining strength, agility and technique.

Her judo journey started when she was only 10 years old, under the guidance of Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary, the distinguished figure in the realm of judo coaching. Dr. Choudhary paved her way to success in the sport – he has been a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes in the field. Beyond the dojo, or the room or hall in which judo is practiced, Dr. Choudhary's mentorship extends to life skills, emphasising the importance of integrity and sportsmanship, Anaya says.

Among other achievements, she also has the following accomplishments to her credit: Sports Excellence Award (UAE) from the Chairman of CBSE; CBSE National: All Over India Judo – Bronze, Hyderabad, India (2017-18); Bronze in Dehradun, India (2019-20) and CBSE Cluster: All Over UAE Judo - Gold, five consecutive years (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 & 2023). She has also won a name in academics: she was given the Outstanding Attainment Award: Science Topper (2016-17 & 2020-21), besides being bestowed the Best Athlete Award of High School (2022-23).

She follows a disciplined training regimen: it reflects the meticulous way in which she approaches her sport. Rising early each day, she engages in rigorous workouts, focusing not only on physical strength but also on the mental fortitude required in the competitive world of judo.

She says her journey has not been without challenges; however, that she has come thus far, indicates her resilience. She has dealt with injuries and coped with the demanding nature of elite-level competition. But she has persisted with an indomitable spirit. Her strategic mindset and tactical ability to adapt to various judo styles, make her a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.

It was in November 25, 2017, that she took part at the age of 10, in her first ever Judo National. She won the third place in a competition conducted across the whole of India in the Under 11, +55 category in Dehradun, while representing the UAE.

In 2018, she competed all over the UAE for a chance to go to India for her second judo nationals. There she won first place, across the UAE. After clearing her cluster across UAE with a gold, she participated in the 2019 Nationals held in Hyderabad, in the Under 14, +66 category. She went on to win the third all over position in India in judo.

“Throughout 2020 to 2023, Covid-19 cast an unexpected shadow over my journey in judo,” Anaya rues. “Quarantine measures and lockdowns imposed the cancellation of tournaments and competitions and they further exacerbated the setback, robbing me of the chance to showcase years of hard work on the national stage, due to the lockdown measures in India.”

With her never-say-die spirit, she participated across the UAE later, earning her 7th Judo Gold Medal overall title in the UAE in 2023. As Anaya celebrates eight years of unwavering commitment to judo, her journey should serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes nationwide, in India and the Emirates and elsewhere.