Roshibina Devi wins silver at Asian Games 2026, becomes first Indian to medal in wushu thrice
Synopsis
Naorem Roshibina Devi has done what no Indian wushu athlete has done before — medalled at three consecutive Asian Games. Her silver in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 completes a bronze-silver-silver arc stretching back to Jakarta 2018, and cements her place as the most decorated Indian in her sport's continental history.
Key Takeaways
Naorem Roshibina Devi won silver in the Women's Sanda 60kg event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on 24 September 2026 .
She is the first Indian wushu athlete to win medals at three consecutive Asian Games — bronze at Jakarta 2018, silver at Hangzhou 2023, and silver at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
PM Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh both praised the achievement on X.
Rowers Satnam Singh and Salman Khan won bronze in Men's Double Sculls with a time of 6:13.25 seconds .
This is Satnam Singh's second Asian Games medal , having won bronze in the quadruple sculls at Hangzhou 2023.
Naorem Roshibina Devi scripted history at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Thursday, 24 September 2026, clinching a silver medal in the Women's Sanda 60kg event to become the first Indian wushu athlete to win medals at three consecutive Asian Games. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were among the prominent voices to applaud the milestone achievement.
A Hat-Trick of Podiums
Roshibina's podium journey spans nearly a decade of continental competition. She opened her Asian Games account with a bronze at Jakarta 2018, upgraded to silver at Hangzhou 2023, and has now matched that result at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Her Hangzhou medal had already placed her in rare company — only the second Indian to win an Asian Games silver in wushu, after Wangkhem Sandhyarani Devi, who claimed silver in the same Women's 60kg Sanda category at Guangzhou 2010.
What PM Modi and Rajnath Singh Said
The Prime Minister's Office posted on X to mark the occasion. 'Congratulations to Naorem Roshibina Devi on winning the silver medal in the Women's Sanda 60kg event. This is a noteworthy achievement…winning medals in 3 consecutive Asian Games. Her consistency, courage and determination are truly commendable. Best wishes for all future endeavours,' the post read.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also posted on X, calling it 'a historic moment for Indian Wushu.' He added: 'She has become the first Indian Wushu athlete to win medals at three consecutive Asian Games, a remarkable testament to her consistency and determination…Her performance will inspire a new generation of Indian athletes to strive for excellence.'
Rowers Satnam and Salman Add to India's Haul
Prime Minister Modi also celebrated a bronze medal won by rowers Satnam Singh and Salman Khan in the Men's Double Sculls at the same Games. The pair clocked 6:13.25 seconds to finish third, behind China's Xudi Yi and Yide Nie, who took gold in 6:09.77 seconds, and Uzbekistan's Pavel Sorin and Mekhrojbek Mamatkulov, who claimed silver in 6:10.49 seconds.
Modi noted the duo's 'composure and coordination' in his post, expressing hope the achievement would inspire them to reach 'even greater heights.' Notably, this is Satnam Singh's second Asian Games medal — he was part of the Indian men's quadruple sculls crew that won bronze at Hangzhou 2023, and reportedly overcame a physical setback during an earlier race at Aichi-Nagoya to help India back onto the podium.
Why This Record Matters
Wushu remains a discipline where Indian representation has historically been limited, making Roshibina's three-edition consistency all the more significant. This comes amid growing attention to India's performance at Asian Games beyond traditional medal earners, with combat sports and rowing contributing to a broader podium footprint. Her achievement also places the spotlight on Manipur — the state that has produced a disproportionate number of India's combat-sport champions — as a talent nursery for continental-level competition.
With the Asian Games 2026 still under way, India's athletes continue to add to the country's tally, and Roshibina's name now stands alone at the top of Indian wushu's all-time Asian Games record books.
Point of View
No IPL-scale contracts, and negligible broadcast attention — yet she has turned up on the podium in Jakarta, Hangzhou, and now Aichi-Nagoya. The political congratulations are welcome, but the more consequential question is whether the Sports Authority of India's support structures for combat sports will be systematically deepened or whether this remains a story of individual grit triumphing despite institutional indifference. Manipur's continued dominance in combat sports also deserves a structural explanation, not just celebratory headlines.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Naorem Roshibina Devi and what did she win at Asian Games 2026?
Naorem Roshibina Devi is an Indian wushu player from Manipur who won the silver medal in the Women's Sanda 60kg event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on 24 September 2026. She is the first Indian wushu athlete to win medals at three consecutive Asian Games.
What is Roshibina Devi's full Asian Games medal record?
Roshibina won bronze at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, silver at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, and silver again at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. This makes her the first Indian to podium in wushu across three consecutive editions of the Games.
Who was the previous Indian record-holder in Asian Games wushu?
Wangkhem Sandhyarani Devi was the previous benchmark — she won silver in the Women's 60kg Sanda at the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games. Roshibina matched and then surpassed that legacy by earning medals across three separate editions.
How did Indian rowers Satnam Singh and Salman Khan perform at Asian Games 2026?
Satnam Singh and Salman Khan won bronze in the Men's Double Sculls, clocking 6:13.25 seconds. China took gold in 6:09.77 seconds and Uzbekistan claimed silver in 6:10.49 seconds.
Why is Roshibina Devi's achievement significant for Indian sport?
It marks the first time any Indian wushu athlete has claimed medals at three consecutive Asian Games, underscoring rare multi-edition consistency in a discipline that receives limited mainstream attention. The feat also highlights Manipur's growing role as a hub for combat-sport excellence on the continental stage.
