Mandaviya hails Roshibina Devi's Silver in Sanda at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Naorem Roshibina Devi on claiming silver in Women's Sanda 60kg at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, boosting India's growing medal count at the quadrennial Games.
Key Takeaways
Naorem Roshibina Devi won the Silver Medal in Women's Sanda 60kg at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya publicly congratulated her on September 24, 2026 .
Sanda is the full-contact combat discipline of Wushu, a sport where Indian athletes from Manipur have a strong competitive tradition at Asian Games.
India's best-ever Asian Games medal haul came at Hangzhou 2023 , supported by the Target Olympic Podium Scheme launched in 2014 .
The 2026 Asian Games are hosted by the Aichi-Nagoya region of Japan.
A Manipuri fighter steps onto the Asian podium — and India's sports minister is first to salute her. Union Minister of Labour, Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday, September 24, 2026, congratulated Naorem Roshibina Devi on winning the Silver Medal in Women's Sanda 60kg at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
From Manipur to the Aichi-Nagoya mat
Naorem Roshibina Devi competes in Sanda — the full-contact combat discipline of Wushu — and her silver in the 60kg category adds another chapter to Indian Wushu's quietly growing Asian Games record. Wushu athletes from the Northeast, particularly Manipur, have long been among India's most reliable medal sources at the Games, carving out podium finishes in disciplines that rarely make the back page but consistently deliver results for the country's tally.
Asian Games 2026: India's medal march in Aichi-Nagoya
The 2026 Asian Games — hosted by the Aichi-Nagoya region of Japan — are the latest stage for India to build on the momentum of Hangzhou 2023, where the contingent recorded its best-ever medal haul at any Asian Games. That breakthrough in Hangzhou was partly credited to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014, which funnels direct financial and logistical support to athletes with medal-winning potential at major multi-sport events. Fighters like Roshibina Devi are among the beneficiaries of that pipeline.
Mandaviya flags the moment for India
Mandaviya's post — carrying the hashtags #AsianGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat — is part of a deliberate ministerial practice of publicly amplifying athlete achievements to build visibility for sports that rarely receive prime-time attention. For a discipline like Sanda, a minister's congratulatory post can be a rare moment of national spotlight. The silver, however, is no ceremonial gesture — it is a competitive result earned on a full-contact mat against the continent's best.
Point of View
Each medal at Aichi-Nagoya is measured against that benchmark — and a Sanda silver keeps the trajectory intact. The real test will be whether recognition translates into sustained infrastructure investment for Wushu beyond the Games cycle.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Naorem Roshibina Devi?
Naorem Roshibina Devi is an Indian athlete who competes in Sanda, the full-contact combat discipline of Wushu. She won the Silver Medal in Women's Sanda 60kg at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What is Sanda in Wushu?
Sanda is the full-contact sparring discipline within Wushu, combining striking and takedown techniques. It is a medal event at the Asian Games, and Indian athletes — particularly from Manipur — have a strong track record in the discipline.
Where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The 2026 Asian Games are hosted by Aichi-Nagoya in Japan. They are the quadrennial multi-sport event for Asian nations.
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) was launched in 2014 to provide direct financial and logistical support to Indian athletes with podium potential at major multi-sport events. It is credited with helping India achieve its best-ever Asian Games medal tally at Hangzhou 2023.
What did Mansukh Mandaviya say about Roshibina Devi's medal?
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya posted 'Heartiest congratulations to Naorem Roshibina Devi on winning the Silver Medal in Women's Sanda 60kg at the #AsianGames2026' on X on September 24, 2026, using the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat.
