Naorem Roshibina Devi Secures Silver at Asian Games 2026

Naorem Roshibina Devi, an Indian wushu athlete, achieved a silver medal at the Asian Games 2026 held in Nagoya, Japan. This marked her third consecutive medal at the event, demonstrating her resilience in the face of significant challenges. Roshibina, 25, entered the competition as a late inclusion after another athlete, Divyanshi Choudhary, withdrew due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

In the women’s 60-kilogram final, Roshibina faced Zhang Xiaoyu of China. The match ended in a unanimous decision, with all five judges favouring the Chinese competitor in both rounds. Zhang showcased dominance, outscoring Roshibina consistently; the judges' scores in the first round included 6-2, 6-3, and 8-2 in favour of Zhang. The trend continued in the second round, where scores such as 10-2 and 8-3 highlighted Zhang's technical superiority.

Roshibina expressed disappointment in her performance, stating, "I could not give the gold medal to the Indian people. I could not give what everyone wanted." She acknowledged the challenges leading up to the Games, including limited preparation time due to her late inclusion.

“I came to know of my inclusion in the team around September 10 and straightaway came here from home without training much,” she added. Roshibina’s journey to the Asian Games has been marked by her father's support. Initially hesitant about her involvement in wushu, her father, Naorem Damu Singh, eventually accepted her passion for the sport, even selling land to fund her training.

Her coach, Amit Pal, commented on her lack of preparation, explaining that Roshibina had been out of the national camp for one and a half months prior to her return to the squad. He noted the skill of her opponent, saying, “The Chinese fighter was very good, something lacking (in Roshibina).”

Despite this set back, Roshibina’s silver medal is a bright spot for the Indian wushu contingent, which has faced challenges in the tournament. Other participants struggled to advance, with chances for medals remaining elusive. Among the sanda competitors, Aryan, participating in the men’s 56-kilogram event, was eliminated in the quarterfinals, and Aparna in the women’s 52-kilogram event exited in the round of 16. The men’s 75-kilogram athlete Vikrant Baliyan also lost in his opening bout.

In the taolu events, Roshibina's compatriots Langlentombi Devi Hanjabam, Nyeman Wangsu, and Suraj Singh Mayanglambam concluded their runs in ninth, fifteenth, and eleventh places respectively, further illustrating the tough competition faced by the Indian team. Roshibina’s silver stands as a testament to her skill and determination, setting the stage for her future aspirations in upcoming events.