New Delhi, Jan 12, 2026: Alisha Subudhi’s historic bronze medal at the WKF Series A Karate Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, has underlined how structured and sustained support for non-mainstream sports can deliver significant results. The Sports Authority of India (SAI), through its Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme, has been instrumental in strengthening combat sports like karate, where India has traditionally struggled to make a mark at the highest international level.
Backed by the TAGG scheme, Alisha became the first Indian woman to win a medal at a Karate 1 – Series A event. She secured the bronze after a dominant 8–0 victory over her Croatian opponent earlier this month. Her achievement reflects the impact of a strong high-performance ecosystem created through SAI’s targeted funding, elite coaching exposure and structured national camps.
As part of this initiative, SAI funded a senior National Coaching Camp held in Lucknow during November–December 2025. The camp received financial assistance of Rs. 1.2 crore under the Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) scheme and featured 48 athletes. Conducted over 45 days at the SAI Regional Centre, Lucknow, the camp focused on match simulations, tactical refinement, psychological conditioning and recovery protocols. Alisha was among the athletes who benefited from this programme.
“I specially thank TAGG for giving the financial support and organising an excellent national camp in Lucknow towards our preparation for the WKF Series A,” said the 23-year-old Alisha.
In the absence of a recognised National Sports Federation for karate, SAI ensured uninterrupted athlete preparation by constituting a Karate Organising Committee. The committee was tasked with managing selection trials, national camps and international exposure, ensuring that athlete development and performance pathways remained intact.
The Karate Organising Committee also conducted Open National Selection Trials in the senior category from October 12 to 14 at the SAI Training Centre located on the NEHU Campus in Shillong. The trials were fully managed by SAI and adhered strictly to international norms, anti-doping regulations and videography-based evaluation processes.
With major competitions such as the Asian Games scheduled later this year, sustained backing through the TAGG scheme and SAI-led national camps is expected to play a decisive role. This support could prove crucial in helping India close the gap in non-mainstream sports disciplines where international success has remained elusive in the past.