YOGITA Mandavi a young aspiring judo athlete from SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE), Bhopal, has been conferred with the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 in recognition of her outstanding achievements and inspiring journey in the field of sports. The prestigious award was conferred by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, during a formal ceremonial function.

 

Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, SAI official informed That the programme was followed by an interaction of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, with all the award recipients, during which he appreciated and encouraged them for their dedication, perseverance, and exemplary commitment towards excellence in their respective fields. Yogita Mandavi joined SAI NCOE Bhopal in 2024 and has since demonstrated remarkable dedication and performance in judo.

 

Her notable achievements include: Silver Medal- 4th Khelo India Women’s League National, Kerala (2024–25) Bronze Medal- Sub-Junior National Judo Championship, Hyderabad (2025) Hailing from a Naxal-affected area Hirri village near Kondagaon district of Chhattisgarh, Yogita’s journey is a testament to courage and resilience.

 

Having lost her parents at the age of four, she was brought up in a Balika Grih, where she began her training in judo at the age of ten. At just 14 years of age, she has already emerged as a promising national-level judoka and a source of inspiration for young athletes across the country.