Asian Games 2026: Roshibina Devi Assured of Third Straight Wushu Medal — Can She Complete the Gold-Medal Journey?

For Roshibina Devi, the Asian Games have become a story of steady progression.

A bronze medal in 2018 was followed by silver in 2023. Now, at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, the Indian wushu star has assured herself of another podium finish after reaching the semifinals of the women’s 60kg Sanda competition.

The colour of the medal is still to be decided. And that leaves one obvious question: Can Roshibina complete the journey from bronze to silver to gold?

The 25-year-old from Manipur has already established herself as one of India’s most accomplished wushu athletes. A third consecutive Asian Games medal would add another significant chapter to her career, but a victory in the semifinal would take her one step closer to the gold that has so far eluded her.

Roshibina’s introduction to martial arts came from an unlikely source — movies. Growing up in Manipur, she watched Jackie Chan films and became fascinated by martial arts and combat movements. That interest eventually translated into action when she began training in martial arts at the age of nine or 10.

Her talent was recognised early, and she subsequently entered the Sports Authority of India’s regional training system. In 2014, she began training under coach Maibam Premkumar at the SAI Regional Centre in Takyel, Imphal. The training was demanding, with her programme built around sparring, conditioning and technical drills across morning and evening sessions. Over the years, Roshibina progressed through different weight categories before establishing herself in the senior 60kg division.

That foundation has since produced a decorated international career.

Bronze in 2018, Silver in 2023

Roshibina first announced herself at the Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018. At just 18, she competed in the women’s 60kg Sanda category. She defeated Pakistan’s Mubashra Akhtar in the quarterfinals to assure herself of a medal before losing to China’s Cai Yingying in the semifinal.

The result was bronze. Five years later, at the Hangzhou Asian Games held in 2023 Roshibina went one step further.

She defeated Kazakhstan’s Aiman Karshyga in the quarterfinal and Vietnam’s Thi Thu Thuy Nguyen in the semifinal to reach the gold-medal bout. Her final opponent was China’s Wu Xiaowei, who defeated the Indian on points. Roshibina had to settle for silver, but the result represented a significant progression from her 2018 bronze. It also made her one of the leading names in Indian wushu.

The 2026 campaign has once again taken Roshibina to the medal rounds. She began her Aichi-Nagoya campaign against Bangladesh’s Shika Khatun in the Round of 16 on September 21. Roshibina won by point difference to progress to the quarterfinals. The following day, she faced Macau, China’s Chu Man Sin.

Roshibina controlled the contest and secured a 5-0 unanimous decision, using her movement, kicks, boxing combinations and throws to disrupt her opponent’s attacks. The victory sent her into the semifinals and, under the Sanda competition format, guaranteed India a medal. Both losing semifinalists receive bronze, meaning Roshibina is now assured of standing on the Asian Games podium for the third consecutive edition.

It is a remarkable run of consistency. In 2018, she won bronze. In 2023, she upgraded that to silver. In 2026, she has already secured at least bronze.

Gold Is the Final Step

Roshibina's semifinal opponent is Indonesia’s Thania Kusumaningtyas.

A victory would take the Indian into the Asian Games final, where she would have another opportunity to fight for the gold medal.

That makes the 2026 edition particularly significant. Roshibina has already demonstrated that she can consistently reach the podium at the continent’s biggest multi-sport event. The remaining challenge is to take the final step.

Her medal trajectory tells its own story: bronze, silver, and now another guaranteed medal.

Whether the next colour is gold will be decided inside the Sanda arena.

For an athlete whose journey began with Jackie Chan movies in Manipur and progressed through years of disciplined training, Roshibina Devi now stands one victory away from another Asian Games final — and potentially the biggest medal of her career.