Roshibina Devi Aims for Gold After Securing Silver at Asian Games
Roshibina Devi's Silver Medal Journey
Roshibina Devi secured silver in the Women’s 60kg category after losing 0-2 to China’s Zhang Xiaoyu in the final. (Photo:X)
Nagoya, Sep 24: Roshibina Devi, a three-time Asian Games medallist from India, expressed her satisfaction with winning her third consecutive medal at the continental event, although she aims to upgrade her silver to gold in future competitions. This latest achievement came at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall.
Hailing from a farming background in Kwasiphai, Bishnupur district of Manipur, Roshibina clinched silver in the Women’s 60kg category after a 0-2 defeat against Zhang Xiaoyu from China in the finals. Previously, she had also secured silver at the last Asian Games, losing to Wu Xiaowei of China during the Hangzhou 2023 Games.
After her recent silver medal win, Roshibina emphasized her commitment to enhancing her performance. She stated, “I am thrilled to have won the Wushu medal for India for the third time. I will train harder for upcoming competitions and aim to change the medal's color.”
Initially, Roshibina was not selected for the Indian team after losing a trial to Divyanshi Choudhary. However, she was called up as a last-minute replacement when Divyanshi withdrew due to medical reasons.
Reflecting on her preparation, Roshibina acknowledged the limited time she had before the Games and noted the advantage Zhang had due to her longer reach. "I had a short preparation time, and Zhang's range is also a little longer than mine. So, she took advantage of that. I am preparing to improve and do better than before,” she remarked.
Roshibina recognized the challenges of consistently winning medals, stating, “Recovering from injuries and competing against younger athletes is not easy. However, I am determined to improve and be ready to compete with them in the future.”
On her path to the finals, Roshibina showcased her skills by defeating Macao's Chu Man Sin with a score of 5-0 in the quarterfinals, ensuring her a medal. She then won 2-0 against Indonesia's Thania Kusumaningtyas to reach the final, where she ultimately lost to Zhang.
Training in the Women's Sanda 60kg category at SAI NCOE Imphal under coach Maibam Premkumar Singh, Roshibina is recognized as one of India's top wushu athletes. She previously earned a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and upgraded it to silver at the 2023 Asian Games, becoming only the second Indian to achieve a Wushu silver medal at the Asian Games.
Her accomplishments have been honored with the Arjuna Award, India's second-highest sporting accolade, and the title of Female Wushu Athlete of the Year (Sanda) from the International Wushu Federation.