IMPHAL: Manipur’s Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu made history at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, after securing a bronze medal in the women’s Changquan combined event, becoming the first Indian athlete to win a wushu medal at the international sporting event.
The 15-year-old accumulated 18.039 points across the two events, scoring 9.316 in Changquan and 8.723 in Gunshu to finish third overall. She was placed fourth following the Gunshu routine but moved up to the bronze-medal position after her Changquan performance.
Egypt’s Sondos Sonbol topped the event with 18.660 points to take gold, while Venezuela’s Valeria Frannerys Dudamel Alvarado claimed silver with a combined score of 18.199.
Hailing from Naorem Leikai in Imphal West district, Chanu was the only Indian wushu athlete to qualify for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games. Her podium finish also marked India’s first medal in wushu at the Youth Olympics, where the discipline made its debut as a medal event.
Manipur Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam congratulated Chanu through a post on X, describing the achievement as a moment of pride for Manipur and the country. He said her dedication and perseverance would serve as an inspiration for young athletes aspiring to pursue sports.
Chanu had earlier won bronze in the girls’ youth Changquan category at the 2026 World Junior Wushu Championships held in Tianjin, China. She had also secured gold at the 25th Sub-Junior National Wushu Championships in Tamil Nadu in 2025.
Her achievement adds to Manipur’s growing presence in Indian wushu, with the state also being home to Naorem Roshibina Devi, India’s only wushu medallist at the 2026 Asian Games.
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Chanu’s bronze was India’s third medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, taking the country’s tally to one silver and two bronze medals. Earlier, Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada won silver in the women’s 63kg judo category, while swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu claimed bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle, becoming the first Indian swimmer to win a medal at the Youth Olympics.
