International judoka and Punjab Police Inspector Rajwinder Kaur has been appointed coach of the Indian women’s judo team for the upcoming World Judo Championships and Asian Games, marking another major milestone in a career defined by perseverance and a remarkable return to competitive sport
From career-threatening injury to national team coach
Rajwinder had largely shifted her focus to coaching at the PAP Complex in Jalandhar after ligament injuries to both knees kept her away from competitive sport for nearly five years. She underwent surgery in 2022 and spent two years in physiotherapy before making her competitive comeback in 2024.
Competing in the 78kg weight category, Rajwinder continued to participate despite crossing the age of 40. She said her return to full fitness and ability to continue competing was more significant to her than the latest coaching appointment.
“The biggest victory for me is not becoming the Indian team’s coach. More importantly, I was able to return to full fitness and continue with the sport even after crossing 40 and sustaining a career-threatening injury,” she said.
An accomplished judo career
Rajwinder won a gold medal at the World Police and Fire Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, held from June 27 to July 6 last year. She also won a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Before that, she secured a silver medal at the National Games hosted by Uttarakhand. She is also a two-time Asian Games participant, giving her experience of competing at one of the biggest multi-sport events in the world.
The upcoming 20th edition of the Asian Games is scheduled to take place in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The 2026 World Judo Championships will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from October 4 to 11.
Rajwinder will be accompanied by coaches Varinder Singh and Jeewan Sharma.
From sprinter to international judoka
Rajwinder began her sporting journey as a sprinter, with the 200m being her favourite event. However, her transition to judo during college changed the course of her career.
She is also a regular trainee at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Training Centre in Gurdaspur, which has produced more than 40 international and 150 national-level judokas in recent years.
Coaching with focus on every athlete
As a coach, Rajwinder says she treats members of the team like family while maintaining a fair approach without favouritism. She focuses on helping athletes overcome both sporting and personal challenges.
“I push individuals to reach their potential while keeping them safe and respecting their physical and mental strengths,” she said.
For Rajwinder, the new responsibility represents more than another professional achievement. It is the latest chapter in a sporting journey that has taken her from sprinting and competitive judo to injury rehabilitation, a return to the mat after 40, and now a role guiding India’s women judokas on the international stage.