Tulika Maan rues cancelled foreign camp amid Judo Federation elections ahead of 2026 Commonwealth Games

The administrative chaos of Indian sports has again caught athletes in the crossfire ahead of the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The Indian judo team was dealt a severe blow when its highly anticipated exposure camp in Japan was cancelled at the last minute following a leadership change in the Judo Federation of India.

"There were elections in our federation, so we didn’t get the camps we wanted," a disappointed Tulika Maan, who had won an unexpected silver medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games four years ago, told The Bridge on the sidelines of the official send-off ceremony in New Delhi.

"The new body cancelled the earlier proposals, including our camp in Japan. We were fully prepared, and it got cancelled just ahead of a major event. We were left in complete shock," she added.

The cancellation was a massive setback for Maan, who competes in the women’s +78 kg heavyweight category. Indian combat sports have traditionally lacked depth in the heavier weight classes, leaving the 27-year-old with a severe deficit of quality sparring partners at home.

Without international exposure trips, replicating the elite competition she will face in Glasgow becomes a steep uphill battle.

Foreign heavyweight athletes possess a vastly different physique, power dynamics, and body structure compared to domestic players, making international camps critical for Indian heavyweights to adapt to the pacing and strength of global opponents.

"Yes, it’s still a big problem," Maan admitted regarding the lack of local sparring partners.

"The opponents I face abroad have very different bodies compared to our athletes. That’s why getting exposure and training camps outside India is crucial for us."

The administrative hurdle is just the latest test of resilience for Maan, who is still recovering from her devastating campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics. As India's lone judo representative, her Olympic dream crashed in just 32 seconds after a lightning-fast defeat to Cuba’s legendary Idalys Ortiz.

The aftermath of the Paris Games was a dark period that nearly derailed her career entirely.

"One small mistake and I faced a defeat. It was a very challenging phase for me, almost like a black day," Maan reflected. "I couldn’t even continue my training."

Now, having overhauled her tactical approach, the Maan is ready to upgrade her medal from Birmingham.

"Right now, I’m in a much better place. I’ve made a few changes to my fighting style, and I have to forget that setback and win gold here," she said.

While the administrative flip-flops have forced the Indian contingent to train in isolation at their respective local academies rather than as a cohesive national unit, Maan refuses to let the federation's missteps dictate her destiny.

"Last time I didn’t get what I wanted, so now my only focus is to change the colour of my medal," Maan concluded.

"We are all training hard...I am confident I will still deliver my best performance at the Games."