Asian Games 2023: Silver for India in Wushu after Roshibina Devi loses to Wu Xiaowei in 60kg final

Indian Wushu star secures silver at Asian Games 2023, improving on Jakarta 2018 bronze. Here is a look at her impressive fight to the silver medal in Hangzhou.

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Highlights:

She lost to Xiaowei Wu in the final of the women's 60 kg event but her win in the semis over the Vietnamese Wushu athlete Thi Thu Nguyen secured second place for the Manipuri star.

Indian Wushu star bettered her Bronze from Jakarta 2018 to help India secure their 23rd medal of the ongoing Asian Games 2023 in the Wushu event on Thursday, September 28. She lost to Xiaowei Wu in the final of the women's 60 kg event but her win in the semis over the Vietnamese Wushu athlete Thi Thu Nguyen secured second place for the Manipuri star.

 


Previously, India had secured seven wushu medals at the Asian Games but consistently fell short in the finals. The last Indian to reach the Asian Games wushu final was Sandhyarani Devi Wangkhem in 2010, where she lost to Iran's Azadpour Khadijeh in the women's 60kg sanda event in Guangzhou.

In the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, she earned a bronze medal in the 60kg sanda category. Although she triumphed in the 2019 South Asian Games in the 60kg event, Roshibina couldn't replicate her success in the Hangzhou Games.

Hailing from the Bishnupur district of Manipur, Roshibina's path to international recognition was far from easy. From a young age, her natural affinity for combat was evident as she often engaged in friendly sparring matches with boys in her neighborhood. This early exposure laid the foundation for her future career in wushu.

Roshibina's exceptional talent and unwavering determination allowed her to defy the odds and make her mark on the global stage. She has proudly represented India in numerous prestigious tournaments, garnering praise for her outstanding performances. A significant milestone in her career came when she secured a gold medal at the 9th Asian Junior Wushu Championships held in Gumi, South Korea.

Beyond her accomplishments, Roshibina is recognized for her incredible grit and commitment to her sport. She has expressed her willingness to "give her life" for wushu. As of September 2023, she remains a prominent figure in the wushu world, serving as an inspiration to many for her journey from a humble background to international stardom.
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