Historic Moment for Indian Wushu
Indian athlete Namrata Batra has etched her name in the history books by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in wushu at the World Games. The 24-year-old clinched silver in the women’s sanda 52 kg event at Chengdu, China, on Tuesday.
Batra lost the final 0-2 to home favourite Mengyue Chen of China, but her achievement marks the start of a new era for martial arts in India.
Dominant Run to the Final
Batra began her campaign with a 2-0 quarter-final win over Lebanon’s Barbara El Rassi, followed by another straight-round victory against Krizan Faith Collado of the Philippines in the semi-finals. Her commanding performance in the semi-final confirmed a maiden wushu medal for India at the prestigious event.
Understanding Wushu and India’s Participation
Wushu, derived from the Chinese term for “martial arts,” has two main disciplines:
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Sanda — a full-contact combat sport similar to kickboxing
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Taolu — a choreographed routine blending gymnastics and martial arts
All three Indian wushu competitors in Chengdu participated in sanda events. Asian Games 2023 silver medallist Roshibina Devi Naorem (women’s 60kg sanda) and Abhishek Jamwal (men’s 56kg sanda) exited in the quarter-finals.
Batra’s Reaction After the Final
Speaking to The Bridge after the final, Batra said:
“There’s satisfaction that I brought a medal to Wushu for the first time, but there’s also disappointment that the gold slipped from my hands. I need to work harder to reach the top of the podium.”
She revealed that in the final’s second round, she felt “a little bit close” to her opponent and promised to train intensively ahead of next year’s Asian Games to go for gold.
Early Journey and Rise in the Sport for Namrata Batra
Namrata’s wushu journey began over a decade ago at the age of 13. Not fond of academics, she was encouraged by her parents to explore sports. Her father enrolled her in a local gym in Mohali, where a one-month wushu program was being held.
“That’s how it all began,” Namrata recalled in an interview with The Bridge.
Since then, her list of achievements has grown to include:
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Gold in her debut at the 2015 Junior Nationals
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Silver at the 2017 Junior Asian Championships
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Gold in the senior category
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Silver at the 2024 Asian Championships
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Bronze at the 2024 Moscow Star International Wushu Championship
She is also a four-time national champion.
Training and Support
Batra trains at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Itanagar, receiving guidance from dedicated coaches and significant support from the Madhya Pradesh sports department.
India’s Overall Performance at the World Games
This is India’s second medal at the event this year, following Rishabh Yadav’s bronze in men’s compound archery. With Batra’s silver, India’s all-time medal tally at the World Games now stands at seven — one gold, two silvers, and four bronzes.Ahead
For Namrata Batra, this silver is a career milestone, but her eyes are firmly set on gold. With determination, skill, and passion, she has not only opened a new chapter for Indian wushu but also inspired the next generation of martial artists to dream of the world stage.
Yash Desai is a renowned journalist with over 10+ years of experience covering sports around the world. He began his career as a News Reporter in Delhi, India, and got an opportunity to cover several World events, including the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Games. He often felt that women’s sports are sidelined and given step-motherly treatment by the mainstream media. To bridge this gap and to build an equal playing field, Yash co-founded FemaleInSports and is currently working as a Lead Editor here.
