Judoka Linthoi Chanambam says she used to beat up boys while growing up

The 16-year-old Linthoi, who on Friday became the first Indian to win a medal in the World Championships across any age-group, used to beat up boys while growing up at Mayang Imphal, around 25km from state capital Imphal. Her helpless parents had to take the injured boys to nearby hospital. "I took up Judo in my childhood as I believed myself to be a boy and not a girl And, as a kid, I hardly had friends who were girls.

Most of them were boys," a beaming Linthoi said during a virtual media interaction. "So, I used to fight with them a lot and ended up injuring some of them as well. My parents had to take them to the hospital, at times," she said with a laugh.

Linthoi has a humble background. Her father is a farmer and mother a home maker. She has two other siblings, an older and a younger sister.

She scripted history by defeating Brazilian Bianca Reis in the women's 57kg category event final on Friday. "I feel absolutely great. It is an incredible feeling.

I feel like I did something from the bottom of my heart and here is the result," "I started Judo from 2014 and I came to Inspire Institute of Sports (IIS) in Bellary in October, 2017. The last five years, with so much of support from everyone, my life has really changed." Linthoi said her father played a pivotal role in reaching where she is right now. "The academy where I was previously part of before joining IIS was at a stone's throw distance from my home.

So, my father always accompanied me during my practice sessions," she said. "I always wanted to take up a sport like Judo from a very young age. In fact, I love boxing and football as well.