24 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Indian wushu star Naorem Roshibina Devi has won a silver medal in the women’s 60kg sanda event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, securing her second consecutive silver at the continental showpiece.
The 25-year-old lost the gold-medal bout to China’s Zhang Xiaoyu, who won the final 2-0 after taking both rounds by unanimous 5-0 decisions.
Third Consecutive Asian Games Medal
Roshibina’s latest silver marks her third successive Asian Games medal.
She won bronze at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, followed by silver at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and another silver in Nagoya in 2026. She has now become the first Indian wushu athlete to win medals at three consecutive editions of the Asian Games.
Dominant Chinese Opponent in Final
Zhang Xiaoyu controlled the final from the beginning and did not allow Roshibina to settle into her rhythm.
The Chinese fighter won the opening round convincingly and maintained her advantage in the second. Roshibina ultimately lost the bout 0-2, with Zhang taking both rounds 5-0 on the judges’ cards.
Roshibina’s Road to the Final
Roshibina produced a strong campaign before reaching the gold-medal contest.
In the semifinal, she defeated Indonesia’s Thania Kusumaningtyas 2-0 to secure her place in the final. She had also beaten Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, the 2023 world champion, during her run in Nagoya.
Late Inclusion in India’s Asian Games Squad
Roshibina’s medal is particularly notable because her participation in the Games came after a late change to India’s squad.
She had lost to Divyanshi Choudhary in the selection trials and was initially left out. However, Divyanshi later suffered an ACL injury, after which Roshibina was brought into the Asian Games team.
The selection process generated controversy, with allegations of favouritism being raised. The Wushu Association of India cited Divyanshi’s injury and MRI findings while explaining the replacement. Roshibina has said the decision was the federation’s and that she wanted to focus on her performance.
Limited Preparation Time
Roshibina also revealed that she learned about her inclusion only a short time before the Games.
She said the lack of preparation time affected her campaign, although she credited coach Amit Pal for supporting her through the competition.
Despite the limited preparation, she managed to reach the final and secure another Asian Games medal.
India’s Medal Count Rises
Roshibina’s silver added to India’s medal tally at the ongoing Asian Games.
By Day 6, India had won 14 medals, including one gold, six silver and seven bronze medals, according to the latest reported tally.
A Significant Achievement for Indian Wushu
Roshibina’s consistent performances across three Asian Games underline her longevity at the highest level of continental wushu.
She said Indian athletes need to improve their mental strength to challenge China’s dominance in the sport and expressed hope that her performances would inspire younger Indian wushu players.
Focus Turns to Future Games
Although Roshibina missed out on gold in Nagoya, she said she intends to learn from the experience and return stronger at future competitions.
Her three consecutive Asian Games medals have already established a notable record in Indian wushu.