Historic Bronze: Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu Makes India's Wushu Debut
Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu makes history as India's first-ever wushu medallist at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
India has scripted history at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, as Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu clinched a bronze medal in the women’s changquan combined wushu event. This victory marks a monumental milestone, as Rajkumari becomes the first-ever Indian athlete to win a wushu medal at the Youth Olympics.
The Path to the Podium
The competition was a test of precision and agility. Rajkumari secured her place on the podium with a combined score of 18.039. Her performance was split between two demanding routines: she scored 8.723 in gunshu and 9.316 in changquan.
The journey to the bronze was a dramatic one. After the gunshu routine, Rajkumari found herself in fourth place. However, she displayed incredible resilience and skill during her changquan performance, leaping up the rankings to secure the third spot and the bronze medal.
The Competition Leaders
While Rajkumari claimed the bronze, the gold went to Egypt’s Sondos Sonbol, who dominated with a combined score of 18.660, scoring a consistent 9.330 in both gunshu and changquan. The silver medal was awarded to Valeria Frannerys Dudamel Alvarado of Venezuela, who finished with a total of 18.199, consisting of 9.246 in gunshu and 8.953 in changquan.
A Legacy from Manipur
Rajkumari’s success is a testament to the rich sporting culture of her home state, Manipur, which is renowned for its strong tradition in wushu. She follows in the footsteps of other Manipuri trailblazers, including Naorem Roshibina Devi, who was India's sole wushu medallist at the 2026 Asian Games.
This is not Rajkumari's first taste of international success. Prior to her triumph in Dakar, she had already proven her mettle by winning a bronze medal in the girls’ youth changquan event at the 2026 World Junior Wushu Championships held in Tianjin, China.
India's Growing Tally in Dakar
Rajkumari's achievement has pushed India's overall medal count at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games to three. The country currently holds one silver and two bronze medals.
Other notable Indian achievements at the games include:
- Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada: Secured a silver medal in the women's judo 63kg category.
- Dhinidhi Desinghu: Made history as the first Indian swimmer to win a Youth Olympic medal, claiming bronze in the women's 100m freestyle.
With wushu making its debut as a medal event at the Dakar 2026 games, Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu has ensured that India started its journey in the sport on the highest possible note.