Devikrishna throws for a winner

CHAMPION'S SMILE: Devikrishna who won gold medal in the South Asian Cadet Judo Championship held in Nepal. By faris arakkal Devikrishna, a 10th standard student of Govt Higher Secondary School, Villadam, is now surrounded by well-wishers from everywhere. She has become an international figure as she brought the first international gold for the state in Judo to the city. July 29 was the luckiest day for her as she bagged gold medal in the South Asian Cadet Judo Championship held in Nepal. Now she bounces with happiness and pride for the country. Devikrishna who is being trained by the state sports council under the centralised sports hostel at Vimala College Thrissur is in the city for less than a year. She is new to the city but not new to the martial art. She started learning it from fifth standard. She had won two national medals earlier, at school level competitions and this year she was selected to the sports council. The team had 18 members to fight for the nation at Nepal and Devikrishna won it for the nation. Devikrishna thanked her coach Maria Lee for her disciplined coaching and advice. Maria Lee was thrilled about her cadet's triumph in the international championship. Devikrishna is basically from Thiruvananthapuram. Now, she is getting ready for upcoming state and national championships.