Sivasagar: Assam karate player Janmoni Konwar, who lost both her home and training ground in the devastating floods weeks before a national championship, has received a major boost to her sporting career after earning a place at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre in Shillong. Konwar, a native of Sivasagar, secured the opportunity following her gold medal-winning performance at the 20th All India Independence Cup Karate Championship in New Delhi. Competing in the Ashihara category at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, she won all three of her bouts, including the final. Her achievement came despite severe financial and infrastructural difficulties in the run-up to the tournament. The floods had destroyed her home and training base, creating additional challenges for the young athlete.
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Konwar has already established herself as a promising karate player at the national level. She won a gold medal at the national championships in 2025 and had previously secured a bronze in 2023. Having trained in karate from a young age, she has continued to compete and perform despite difficult circumstances. Following reports highlighting her struggles and achievements, SAI Regional Centre, Guwahati executive director DK Mittal contacted Konwar on Thursday and offered her a place at the SAI Training Centre in Shillong, where karate is among the disciplines offered. Konwar has expressed her willingness to join the centre and make use of the training and support available under the SAI scheme. The programme will provide her access to training facilities, financial assistance, support for competition-related expenses and insurance coverage, among other benefits.
Konwar is currently admitted to Jorhat Medical College and is expected to join the Shillong centre shortly. The new opportunity will allow her to continue training in a better-equipped environment while pursuing her ambition of achieving greater success at the national and international levels. For the flood-hit athlete, the SAI opportunity offers renewed hope and a stronger platform to build on her remarkable performances despite adversity.
