India’s growing presence in international wushu received a significant boost as Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu became the country’s first medal winner in the sport at the Youth Olympic Games, securing bronze in the women’s Changquan combined event in Dakar, Senegal.
India’s young sporting talents continued to make their mark at the Youth Olympic Games, with Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu delivering a historic performance in wushu on Tuesday. The Manipur athlete secured a bronze medal in the women’s Changquan combined event, becoming the first Indian to win a wushu medal at the prestigious youth competition. Chanu finished third with a combined score of 18.039 points, behind Egypt’s Sondos Sonbol, who claimed gold with 18.660 points, and Venezuela’s Valeria Frannerys Dudamel, who secured silver with 18.199 points.
The Indian athlete’s achievement was particularly significant given the competitive nature of the event, which combines two disciplines of wushu: Changquan and Gunshu. While Chanu faced an early challenge in the competition, her ability to respond under pressure proved decisive in securing a place on the podium. Chanu began her campaign in the Gunshu discipline, finishing fourth with a score of 8.723 points. The result left her needing a strong performance in Changquan to remain in contention for a medal.
The Manipur-born athlete responded with determination, producing an impressive routine to score 9.316 points in Changquan. Her second performance lifted her overall score to 18.039, allowing her to move into third place and confirm a historic bronze medal for India. The comeback highlighted Chanu’s composure and ability to deliver when the pressure was at its highest. Her performance also demonstrated the growing competitiveness of Indian wushu athletes on the international stage.
The medal represents a landmark moment for Indian wushu, which has traditionally received less attention than several of the country’s more established Olympic sports. Chanu’s achievement could provide fresh momentum for the discipline and encourage greater investment in developing young athletes.
Meanwhile, India’s young table tennis player Syndrela Das saw her campaign come to an end in the round of 16 after losing to Singapore’s Ming Ying Loy in straight games. Das, who had topped her group with three victories from three matches, entered the knockout stage with considerable momentum. However, she was unable to carry that form into the elimination round, losing 7-11, 6-11, 4-11, 6-11.
The defeat ended her hopes of securing a major medal in Dakar, although her unbeaten group-stage performance remained a positive takeaway from the tournament. Das’s campaign highlighted the competitive nature of the knockout rounds, where even athletes who dominate their groups must quickly adapt to different opponents and higher-pressure situations.
India’s medal-winning performances continued on Monday, with teenager Khushbu Rajakbhai securing silver in judo and swimming sensation Dhinidhi Desinghu claiming bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle. Rajakbhai became only the second Indian judoka to reach the podium at the Youth Olympic Games, marking another important milestone for Indian judo.
Desinghu’s bronze medal further strengthened India’s presence in the swimming competition, underlining the country’s growing talent pool across different sporting disciplines.
Together, the performances of Chanu, Rajakbhai and Desinghu reflected India’s expanding sporting ambitions at the youth level, with athletes from a variety of disciplines delivering results on the international stage.
