New Delhi, July 7: The Judo Federation of India (JFI) has termed India’s medal count in the just concluded ninth Asian Junior judo championships in Yemen as encouraging. The team claimed six medals including one gold, improving from the last edition at Hyderabad where India won five medals.

JFI secretary Mukesh Kumar said players’ efforts in the competition were encouraging. “We may have won one gold medal only, but podium finish will give a fillip to the morale of the players as they are preparing for the World meet (in Thailand) in October. It will help us to assess the players’ performance,” he said.

The JFI will select probables for the national camp in Patiala on the basis of the Yemen performance. The Indian women’s team finished second with Th Kalpana Devi emerging victorious in 57 kg category.

However, winner of gold in the last edition at Hyderabad, Garima Chaudhary had to settle for silver in the 63 kg category. O Bidyalaxmi Devi (45 kg), H Sunibala Devi (70 kg) also ended up with silver while Rohini B Patil (52kg) and KH Yaima Singh (81kg) won bronze medals.