Published: July 5, 2026 at 11:42 am
Telangana’s Harshavardhan, an alumnus of Adilabad Sports School, has become the first Judoka from the state to be selected for the Indian team which will compete at the Asian Cadet Judo Championship to be held in Jordan on July 16 and 17. Harshavardhan will compete in the 60kg weight category.
Harshavardhan began his judo journey at the Telangana State Sports School in Adilabad, where he underwent rigorous foundational training for eight years. Thanks to his hard work, discipline, and dedication, he earned the opportunity to undergo advanced training at the SAI Centre in Bhopal last year and is currently continuing his training there to further hone his performance.
Notably, Harshavardhan is the first athlete from Telangana to represent the state at an international level in judo. This achievement marks a memorable milestone not only for Adilabad Sports School but also in the history of judo in Telangana.
Harshavardhan groomed by coach Nanganuri Raju
Harshavardhan was groomed through specialized training provided by Sports School coach Nanganuri Raju.
Harshavardhan’s success serves as a great inspiration, not just for himself, but for aspiring athletes currently training in sports schools, their parents, and the entire sports community. Rising to the level of participating in an international judo championship is truly a matter of pride for all students at sports schools.
Telangana sports minister Vakiti Srihari, sports advisor to the Telangana government AP Jitender Reddy, special chief secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Sports Authority of Telangana (SATG) chairman Shivsena Reddy, and SATG MD Dr A Sonibala Devi expressed hope that Harshavardhan would deliver an outstanding performance at the Asian Cadet Judo Championship and bring laurels to the country and the state of Telangana.
They also congratulated Harshavardhan and his coach Nanganuri Raju.
