Lagan lakshakar

Khelo India Youth Games: Uttar Pradesh’s Lagan Lakshakar is a telling example of a conservative society’s mindset being changed. On her debut in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Bihar, this judo athlete from SAI National Centre of Excellence, Bhopal, won 57 kg category bronze medal. She not only changed how society perceives her but also inspired hundreds from Bundelkhand to follow her path.

Training in Bhopal since 2023, Lagan’s journey has been far from easy. To reach this level, she had to pass through eight different sports before finding her calling in judo. It was in this battle for identity that Judo stood by her - and helped her prove herself.

After winning bronze at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, the 17-year-old Lagan Lakshakar was visibly emotional. She recalled that her parents had to endure harsh comments and taunts after the birth of their first child. After speaking with her mother, Lagan could not hold back her tears. Her mother, too, was equally overwhelmed.