Part-281

  James g the girls. This was a new dynamic for him, and he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The lingering rumors about him and Mili hung in the air, and it was strao see it reflected in others’ perceptions.

  Ryan pointed out the girls as he introduced them. “This is Nabi, Keya, Tisha, and Dipa, our backup. Nabi is htweight champion, and she’s a force to be reed with o. Keya is our htweight petitor, and she’s a rising star in the judo world. Tisha is our middleweight fighter, and she’s a tough as nails petitor who always gives 100%. And Dipa, our backup, is a talented heavyweight who has a lot of potential. She’s still o the team, but she’s already making a name for herself with her impressive skills and her positive attitude.”

  Dipa stood a bit apart from the group, her chubby frame giving her a shy presence. But James reized her immediately. She was the girl he had defended from bullies just a few days ago.

  “You’re…?” he started, a smile breaking across his face.

  “Yes, it’s me,” Dipa said, her voice soft. “I joihe Judo Club to learn self-defense a fit. I had been bullied for a long time, and I was tired of being a victim. I wao learn how to protect myself and to feel strong and fident. I had heard good things about the Judo Club, and I decided to give it a try. I’m so gd that I did. I want to tio use judo to empower myself and to inspire others to stand up for themselves and to never give up on their dreams.”

  “Good for you!” James replied, genuinely impressed. He admired her ce and resilience. She smiled awkwardly in response, her introverted nature clear but endearing.

  As they chatted, James’s gaze wao the boys’ lineup: himself, Ryan, Sourov, Zia, and Abbas. He felt a sense of pride swell within him. They had all worked hard to get here, and now it was time to put their skills to the test.

  Soon, a referee called everyone over for the weigh-in. James joihe other boys, gng over at the girls. Nabi and Keya, htweight petitors, stepped onto the scale first. Nabi, ning champion, weighed in at 52 kilograms, while Keya, a promising newer, weighed in at 50 kilograms. Tisha, our middleweight fighter, weighed in at 63 kilograms. Finally, Dipa, our backup heavyweight, stepped onto the scale and weighed in at 78 kilograms.

  James stepped onto the scale, his heart rag as he waited for the o stabilize. He had been training hard, and he hoped all his efforts would show.

  “Weight css firmed!” the referee called out, his voiing through the gym. “!”

  Sourov was in the heavyweight, Zia in the lightweight, while James, Ryan, and Abbas were in the middleweight, with Abbas as the bench pyer.

  James stepped off the scale, joining Ryan and the others as they waited for the matches to start. He g Ryan, who looked equally excited.