Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu Makes History at Youth Olympic Games
Historic Achievement in Wushu
Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu
Imphal, Nov 5: Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu from Manipur has made history by becoming the first Indian to secure a wushu medal at the Youth Olympic Games, clinching a bronze in the women's Changquan combined event held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2026.
The 15-year-old athlete achieved a score of 18.039 points, placing her third overall, with Egypt's Sondos Sonbol taking gold at 18.660 points and Venezuela's Valeria Frannerys Dudamel earning silver with 18.199 points.
Chanu, who hails from Naorem Leikai in Imphal West district, excelled in the Changquan event, finishing second with 9.316 points and third in Gunshu with 8.723 points, which contributed to her combined bronze medal.
Govindas Konthoujam, the Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports in Manipur, took to social media to congratulate Chanu, calling her success a source of pride for both the state and the nation.
He emphasized that her commitment and sporting prowess would motivate future generations of athletes.
Mayanglambam Bimoljit, a two-time Asian Games medallist and Arjuna Award winner, also praised Chanu's remarkable achievement.
Notably, Chanu was the sole Indian wushu athlete to qualify for the Youth Olympics. Prior to this event, she had already earned a bronze medal in the girls' youth Changquan category at the 2026 World Junior Wushu Championships in Tianjin, China.
Wushu competitions are categorized into two main disciplines: Taolu, which focuses on performance routines judged for precision, and Sanda, a full-contact combat sport that includes punches, kicks, and throws.