Arunachal Pradesh wushu athlete Nyeman Wangsu completed her long-awaited Asian Games journey on September 21, representing India in the women’s Changquan final at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
The athlete from Kanubari in Longding district finished 15th among 16 competitors with 9.573 points, while Hong Kong’s Hui Yu Lydia Sham won gold with 9.713. Wangsu’s appearance was significant because she had first qualified for the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games but was unable to compete after a visa and accreditation dispute involving Chinese authorities.
Three years later, she became the first wushu player from Arunachal Pradesh to qualify for the Asian Games for a second time. Her return followed years of competition, including three consecutive National Games gold medals and three silver medals at the Moscow Wushu Star in April 2026.
Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein congratulated Wangsu on her selection, while the All Arunachal Pradesh Wushu Association (AAPWA) described her journey as an important moment for wushu in the state.
A Long-Awaited Asian Games Debut
Wangsu’s appearance in Nagoya came after an opportunity to compete at the continental Games had been interrupted three years earlier. Scheduled for 5:30 am IST on September 21, the Changquan final brought together 16 athletes, with medals decided on the basis of technical execution, overall performance and degree of difficulty.
Wangsu recorded 4.900 in component A, 2.673 in component B and 2.000 in component C, giving her an overall score of 9.573 and 15th place. Sham of Hong Kong took gold with 9.713, Macau’s Cho Man Sou won silver with 9.710 and Indonesia’s Eugenia Diva Widodo secured bronze with 9.706.
While the final standings did not result in a medal for Wangsu, reaching the Asian Games floor in Japan marked the completion of a journey that had remained unfinished since 2023. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein had earlier congratulated her on securing a place in Team India, writing that she had earned a “well-deserved place” in the Indian wushu squad and wishing her success on the international stage.
AAPWA general secretary John Tara Bakey similarly described her selection as an important moment for the development of wushu in Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting her journey from Kanubari to an international sporting arena.
The Visa Setback That Changed 2023
Wangsu had originally been selected for the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou along with fellow Arunachal Pradesh wushu athletes Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu. However, the trio became caught up in a dispute over Chinese visas.
Earlier that year, China had issued stapled visas to the three athletes for the World University Games in Chengdu, prompting the Indian government to halt the wushu team’s departure. India had objected to the use of stapled visas for athletes from Arunachal Pradesh, while China’s position on the state remained part of the wider diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
The issue resurfaced ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games. Although the three athletes were initially reported to have obtained accreditation from the Asian Games organisers, they were ultimately unable to travel with the Indian contingent after accreditation and visa-related problems.
India’s Sports Minister Anurag Thakur cancelled his planned visit to Hangzhou in protest, while Olympic Council of Asia officials said they were pursuing the matter with Chinese authorities. The athletes eventually returned to India without competing.
For Wangsu, the setback did not end her sporting career. She continued competing nationally and internationally, building a record that eventually earned her another Asian Games opportunity. She won National Games gold in Gujarat in 2022, Goa in 2023 and Uttarakhand in 2025, becoming a three-time National Games champion.
Reports from Arunachal Pradesh also record at least 17 senior national championship gold medals since 2019, along with international medals and appearances at the Asian and World Wushu Championships.
Building Back Through Competition
Wangsu’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games included a strong performance at the Moscow Wushu Star International Championship in April. She won three silver medals across Changquan, Daoshu and Gunshu, while also clearing the preliminary trials for the Asian Games. The results helped strengthen her case for selection to the Indian squad.
Her selection was formally announced in August, when she was among 492 sportspersons approved by the Sports Ministry for the Aichi-Nagoya Games. She was selected for women’s Changquan, while fellow Arunachal athlete Rupa Bayor was chosen for individual Poomsae in taekwondo.
Wangsu’s selection was subsequently described by regional sporting bodies as a landmark moment, making her the first wushu athlete from Arunachal Pradesh to qualify for the Asian Games twice.
Her journey has also drawn attention to the infrastructure challenges faced by athletes in Arunachal Pradesh. After Wangsu’s Moscow performance, AAPWA general secretary John Tara Bakey said the state’s wushu athletes had consistently performed internationally despite inadequate facilities.
He pointed out that there was no dedicated indoor wushu training hall in the capital region or elsewhere in the state and called for better-equipped training centres to support athletes preparing for events such as the Asian Games and Olympics.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Nyeman Wangsu’s Asian Games story illustrates both the resilience of an athlete and the importance of creating sporting systems that allow talent to compete without unnecessary barriers. Her 2023 absence was shaped by a diplomatic and visa dispute beyond the sporting arena; in 2026, she finally had the opportunity to compete, even though the result did not bring home a medal.
Her journey also highlights a broader question about how India can ensure that athletes from smaller states and remote regions have sustained access to training facilities, competition and institutional support. At the same time, Wangsu’s second Asian Games qualification demonstrates how sporting opportunities can remain meaningful even after an earlier setback.
Also read: Meet Elavenil Valarivan: Batman-Bandana Shooter Wins Two Asian Games Silvers
