Fifteen-year-old Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu from Manipur created history on November 3, 2026, by winning India’s first-ever Wushu medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. She secured bronze in the women’s Changquan Combined event, scoring 18.039 points across two routines. Her achievement is particularly significant as Wushu made its debut as a medal sport at the Youth Olympics this year.
Chanu’s international success follows a gold medal at the national level and bronze at the 2026 World Junior Wushu Championships in China. Her performance also took India’s medal tally at Dakar to three, comprising one silver and two bronze medals. The Wushu Association of India credited her determination, coaches and support staff for the historic achievement.
Historic Podium Finish
Competing at the Dakar Expo Centre in Senegal, Chanu delivered an impressive performance in the women’s Changquan Combined final to secure India’s maiden Wushu medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
The event comprises two routines: Changquan, a bare-handed martial arts performance, and Gunshu, which involves the use of a staff. The athlete’s final position is determined by combining the scores from both routines.
Chanu scored 8.723 points in Gunshu and followed it with 9.316 points in Changquan, taking her combined score to 18.039. She finished third behind Egypt’s Sondos Sonbol, who won gold with 18.660 points, and Venezuela’s Valeria Frannerys Dudamel Alvarado, who claimed silver with 18.199 points.
The Indian athlete had finished second in the preliminary round with 17.982 points, qualifying among the top eight competitors for the final. Although she was placed fourth after her Gunshu routine in the final, her subsequent Changquan performance helped her climb to third place and secure the bronze medal.
𝘼𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙖! 🇮🇳🥉 Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu wins bronze in the women’s Wushu event at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, securing third place in the Changquan combined category with a score of 18.39. India’s medal tally also includes silver for Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada in women’s 63kg Judo and bronze for Dhinidhi Desinghu in the 100m freestyle swimming event. #YouthOlympicGames #TeamIndia
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) November 3, 2026
A Young Talent From Manipur
Born on April 15, 2011, Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu is a 15-year-old Wushu athlete representing Manipur. She competes in Taolu, the performance-based discipline of Wushu, which involves a combination of martial arts techniques, coordinated movements, balance, flexibility and precision.
Manipur has a well-established tradition of producing Wushu athletes who have represented India at major international competitions. Chanu’s emergence adds another promising name to this sporting legacy. The state is also home to Naorem Roshibina Devi, one of India’s most accomplished Wushu athletes, who has won multiple Asian Games medals.
Chanu’s journey reflects the growing presence of young athletes from the Northeast in international sporting competitions. Her selection for the Dakar Youth Olympics provided an opportunity to represent India on a major global platform, competing against some of the most promising young Wushu practitioners from different countries.
National And Global Success
Chanu had already established herself on the domestic circuit before making her mark internationally. At the 25th Sub-Junior National Wushu Championship, held at K S R College of Engineering in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, from May 26 to 31, 2025, she won gold medals in two Taolu events: Changquan and Daoshu.
Her performances at the national level helped strengthen her position as a promising young competitor in the discipline.
She subsequently represented India at the 10th World Junior Wushu Championships, held in Tianjin, China, in March 2026. Competing in the girls’ youth Changquan category, Chanu secured a bronze medal, adding an international podium finish to her record.
The championship was particularly successful for the Indian contingent, which secured nine medals, including three gold, two silver and four bronze medals. Chanu’s contribution in Taolu was among the achievements that highlighted India’s growing presence in the sport.
Her consecutive performances at national and international competitions demonstrated her progress and provided valuable experience ahead of the Youth Olympic Games. The bronze in Dakar is now another significant milestone in her young career.
Wushu’s Olympic Milestone
Chanu’s achievement carries significance beyond her individual medal because Dakar 2026 marks the first time Wushu has been included as a medal sport at the Youth Olympic Games.
The competition was held from November 1 to 3 at the Dakar Expo Centre, featuring 48 athletes across four events: men’s and women’s Changquan Combined and men’s and women’s Taijiquan Combined.
Each event involved two routines, with the final rankings determined by combining the scores from both performances. In the women’s Changquan Combined event, athletes competed in Changquan and Gunshu.
The introduction of Wushu as a medal event provided young practitioners with an opportunity to compete for Olympic honours in a discipline that has a substantial following across Asia and other parts of the world.
Chanu’s bronze also came during an important phase for Indian Wushu, which has been working towards greater international recognition. Her performance demonstrates how opportunities at global competitions can help emerging athletes gain visibility and inspire greater participation in less-publicised sporting disciplines.
India’s Dakar Campaign
With Chanu’s bronze, India had secured three medals at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as of November 3, comprising one silver and two bronze medals.
Before her achievement, Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada had won silver in the women’s 63kg Judo category, while swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu had secured bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle event.
Chanu’s medal added another achievement to India’s campaign, while also marking the country’s first-ever Wushu podium finish at the Youth Olympic Games.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, being held from October 31 to November 13, are the fourth edition of the competition and the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil. India’s 17-member contingent is competing across 11 sports.
The Wushu Association of India congratulated Chanu on her historic performance, stating that the achievement was made possible through her hard work and determination, along with the efforts of her coaches and support staff. The association’s acknowledgement also highlights the importance of the training ecosystem and collective support behind an athlete’s international success.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu’s achievement is a reminder that sporting excellence can emerge from every corner of the country when young talent receives the right opportunities, encouragement and support. Her journey from winning national championships to securing an international medal reflects the importance of grassroots sporting development and sustained investment in emerging disciplines.
Manipur and the wider Northeast have consistently contributed talented athletes to Indian sport. Their achievements deserve recognition beyond medal ceremonies, through better training facilities, financial assistance, professional coaching and opportunities to compete internationally. Equally important is ensuring that young sportspersons receive encouragement regardless of the popularity of their chosen discipline.
Sport has the power to bring communities together, challenge stereotypes and create shared moments of national pride. Chanu’s success should encourage India to recognise talent across regions and sporting traditions. How can India provide greater opportunities and recognition to young athletes from grassroots communities and emerging sporting disciplines?
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