New Delhi, September 22: Himanshi Tokas, a 20-year-old judoka from Munirka, South Delhi, has scripted history by becoming the first Indian—male or female—to achieve the World No.1 ranking in the International Judo Federation (IJF) Junior Rankings in the women’s 63kg category.
Her journey has been one of resilience and determination. Overcoming initial family resistance and a serious eye injury, Himanshi’s breakthrough came in 2019 when she won silver at the Sub-Junior Nationals. She later secured a place at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Bhopal, where, under coach Yashpal Solanki and through exposure camps in Japan, she refined her skills.
The year 2025 marked her golden season, with gold medal victories at the Casablanca African Open, Taipei Junior Asian Cup, and the Asian Junior Championships. At the latter, she defeated India’s Linthoi Chanambam in the semifinal and Uzbekistan’s Nigina Saparbova in the final. In total, she earned 610 ranking points, surpassing competitors from traditional judo powerhouses like Italy and Brazil.
While she dominates the junior circuit, Himanshi also made her presence felt in senior events such as the Paris and Tbilisi Grand Slams, achieving a current senior world ranking of 61st—a significant milestone for a young athlete transitioning to the elite level.
Her achievement reflects India’s growing strength in judo, powered by grassroots initiatives and institutional support from bodies such as the Reliance Foundation. Experts believe her rise is a turning point for Indian sports, inspiring many young athletes, particularly women, to dream beyond conventional paths.
