Udaipur:
Relocating to the SAI National Centre of Excellence in Bhopal six years back has set Ritik Sharma’s career sprinting forward. The Punjab‑born judoka showcased his continued growth once more with a strong showing at the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) Rajasthan 2025.
At the fourth KIUG held in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indoor Hall, Udaipur, Ritik—representing Lovely Professional University—claimed his third gold medal, adding on to a bronze he’d already won.
What makes this triumph even sweeter is the way he rebounded from a recent hiccup. After an early exit in the first round of the Asian Open Championships in Hong Kong, he flew straight to Udaipur instead of dwelling on the disappointment.
Channeling the lessons learned from that overseas experience, he delivered a calm, confident performance that saw him defeat a familiar rival, Yash Ghangas, in the men’s +100 kg final.
The rivalry between Ritik and Yash dates back to their teenage years. Their first face‑off was in the 2020 KIYG final in Guwahati, and even today, as students of the same NCOE, they remain fierce competitors.
“There are a handful of judokas in our category, so we have known each other for years now. I beat him for the first time in the Guwahati KIYG, and I’m glad that I could get the better of him in KIUG 2025 too,” Ritik said, stressing the need for more international exposure.
“Despite being out in the first round, I have come back with a lot of learnings and positives from Hong Kong. What also matters is the mental aspect of the sport, as such exposure trips help you in understanding how the world and Olympic champions approach the game, their techniques, and sparring with some of the best in the world,” he added.
Ritik’s journey began far from India’s main sporting hubs, in Gurdaspur—a remote border district in Punjab that borders Pakistan. Growing up, opportunities were scarce, with few organized sports programmes or training facilities. Yet at 14, in 2015, Ritik discovered his love for judo and committed himself to the sport with unwavering focus.
The youngest of three siblings, he was born to an ASI in the Punjab Police. His first training took place at the famed Shaheed Bhagat Singh JFI coaching centre, known for producing over 50 international and 100 national‑level judokas. The strong foundation he gained there steadied him even when facing challenges on the global stage.
Although he returned empty-handed from last year’s Grand Slams in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, the 24‑year‑old is now energized by the momentum of his KIUG gold as he gears up for the Senior National Championships, set to commence on December 11 in Imphal.
For Ritik, the lack of high‑quality sparring partners in his weight class remains a significant hurdle. Nevertheless, he keeps pushing his limits and is now targeting the next big milestone: securing a spot on the 2026 Commonwealth Games squad.
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