17-year-old Janmoni Konwar lately received the gold medal within the Nationwide Karate Championship in New Delhi. When she returned dwelling on Monday, nevertheless, she discovered her household nonetheless residing beneath a tarpaulin after their home was washed away within the floods final month.
Janmoni, a resident of Bhogdoiporia Gaon in Jorhat district, received the gold medal within the Ashihara class on the championship held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium from August 7 to 9.
Her household was pressured to depart their dwelling on July 19 after floodwaters entered the realm. The embankment, which breached about 150 metres from their home, despatched water into the village and broken the household’s fishery. Geese and poultry have been washed away, whereas the household’s buffaloes needed to be moved to a safer location.
The fishery was additionally linked to Janmoni’s participation within the championship. Her household had been elevating fish for practically three years and deliberate to promote them to satisfy the bills of her journey to Delhi.
“We had deliberate to promote the fish and ship Janmoni to the competitors, however the flood destroyed that plan,” her elder brother Krishnamoni Konwar mentioned.
The household had earlier bought two buffaloes to assist meet the bills of Janmoni’s participation in karate competitions.
Janmoni started studying karate on the age of 5. Regardless of restricted coaching amenities, she continued with the game and received a bronze medal in 2023 and gold in 2025. She was getting ready for this yr’s nationwide championship when the flood hit the realm.
With the household displaced and rail companies affected, getting her to Delhi turned a problem. Assist got here after Alakh Pandey, founding father of Physics Wallah, discovered about Janmoni’s scenario throughout his go to to flood-affected areas of Assam.
Pandey supported the workforce’s journey to Delhi and again, organized lodging and supplied Rs 3 lakh to Janmoni’s household. Union Minister of State for Exterior Affairs Pabitra Margherita additionally supplied Rs 10,000 in monetary help.
Janmoni finally made the journey and competed within the championship, returning with the gold medal.
Her coaching had continued even after the household moved to the embankment. With out entry to a correct coaching facility, she stored up her observe whereas her household handled the lack of their home and livelihood.
Janmoni arrived at Dibrugarh Airport on Monday and headed again in direction of her flood-hit village with the medal.
Her household, in the meantime, stays on the embankment. In accordance with Krishnamoni, they might have to remain there till November earlier than they’ll take into consideration returning dwelling.
A Class XII scholar, Janmoni now desires to proceed her karate profession. For the household, her nationwide gold has come at a tough time, at the same time as they start the lengthy means of recovering from the flood.
