India Name Seven-Member Wushu Squad for Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games

India have named a seven-member Wushu squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with the contingent set to compete across both Sanda and Taolu disciplines.

The Indian squad includes three men and four women, covering a range of combat and artistic events. Aryan and Vikrant Baliyan will compete in the Sanda competition, while Suraj Singh Mayanglambam and Nyeman Wangsu have been selected for Changquan events. The women's squad also includes Aparna, Divyanshi and Langlentombi Devi Hanjabam.

Wushu has been one of the sports in which India has produced competitive performances at major Asian competitions, but the challenge at the Asian Games remains considerable given the depth of traditional powerhouses such as China and other East and Southeast Asian nations.

The 2026 squad will therefore head to Aichi-Nagoya with the objective of improving on India's previous campaign and challenging deeper into the competition across both disciplines.

India to compete across Sanda and Taolu

Wushu at the Asian Games is divided broadly between Sanda and Taolu. Sanda is the combat discipline of Wushu, where athletes compete in head-to-head bouts across different weight categories. The competition demands a combination of striking, kicking, takedowns, speed and tactical awareness.

Aryan has been selected for the men's 56kg category, while Vikrant Baliyan will compete in the men's 75kg division. Their campaigns will involve direct elimination contests, where progressing through each round is essential to reaching the medal stages. The Taolu competition, meanwhile, is based on technical routines. Athletes are judged on their execution, difficulty, balance, speed, power and overall performance.

Suraj Singh Mayanglambam will compete in the men's Changquan event, while Nyeman Wangsu has been selected for the women's Changquan competition. Langlentombi Devi Hanjabam will compete in the women's Nanquan and Nandao events, giving India representation in the southern-style Taolu disciplines.

Suraj Singh Mayanglambam's selection for the men's Changquan competition provides India with an important entry in one of the major Taolu events. Changquan, also known as Long Fist, is characterised by expansive movements, high jumps, speed and flexibility. Athletes must execute their routines with precision while maintaining power and control.

At the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, Suraj competed in the men's Changquan event and finished fifth. That result showed India's ability to remain competitive against a high-quality Asian field, although the medal positions remained out of reach. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will provide him with another opportunity to improve on that performance and challenge the leading athletes in the discipline.

Nyeman Wangsu will represent India in the women's Changquan event. Her selection adds further depth to India's Taolu contingent and gives the country representation in both the men's and women's versions of the discipline. The women's Taolu challenge will also feature Langlentombi Devi Hanjabam, who will compete in the combined Nanquan and Nandao category.

Nanquan is a southern-style empty-hand routine, while Nandao involves the use of a southern broadsword. Success in the combined event requires athletes to maintain technical quality across two different routines.

Aryan and Vikrant Baliyan take on Sanda competition

India's Sanda campaign will be led by Aryan in the men's 56kg category and Vikrant Baliyan in the men's 75kg division. Unlike Taolu, where athletes compete against a scoring benchmark, Sanda is decided through direct bouts. Every match can bring a different tactical challenge depending on the opponent's fighting style.

The men's 56 kg category will test Aryan's ability to combine speed and aggression with defensive discipline. Lighter weight categories often feature fast-paced contests where reactions and movement can play a decisive role. Vikrant Baliyan's men's 75 kg campaign will present a different physical challenge. The higher weight category places additional emphasis on strength and power while still requiring technical control.

At Hangzhou 2022, Vikrant competed in the men's 65kg category but was unable to progress beyond the opening stages. His return to the Asian Games in a new campaign offers another opportunity to test himself against elite continental opposition.

For both Indian Sanda athletes, the ability to manage high-pressure knockout bouts will be crucial.

Four of India's seven selected Wushu athletes are women. Aparna has been named for the women's 52kg Sanda competition, while Divyanshi will compete in the women's 60kg category. Their inclusion gives India representation across two women's combat weight divisions.

The women's squad is completed by Nyeman Wangsu in Changquan and Langlentombi Devi Hanjabam in Nanquan and Nandao.

This spread across Sanda and Taolu is significant because it gives India opportunities in both combat and routine-based events rather than concentrating its campaign in a single discipline.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/asian-games-2026-india-s-confirmed-squad-so-far-as-45-nations-prepare-for-aichi-nagoya

At the previous Asian Games, India's strongest Wushu result came through Naorem Roshibina Devi, who won a silver medal in the women's 60kg Sanda competition. The 2026 squad will be looking to build on India's competitive history in the sport and return to the medal race.

The seven-member squad covers five competition categories across Sanda and Taolu. Aryan, Vikrant Baliyan, Aparna and Divyanshi will compete in the Sanda events, while Suraj Singh Mayanglambam, Nyeman Wangsu and Langlentombi Devi Hanjabam will represent India in Taolu.

For India, the immediate challenge will be to convert competitive performances into medal contention. The standard at the Asian Games will once again be exceptionally high, particularly with China and several other established Wushu nations expected to field strong teams. However, the combination of experienced Asian Games campaigners and athletes competing across different disciplines gives India multiple opportunities to make an impact.

With a balanced squad of seven athletes, India will head to Aichi-Nagoya 2026 looking to improve on its Hangzhou campaign and fight for another strong result on the Asian stage.

India’s seven-member Wushu squad for the 2026 Asian Games: Aryan (Men’s 56kg), Vikrant Baliyan (Men’s 75kg), Suraj Singh Mayanglambam (Men’s Changquan), Nyeman Wangsu (Women’s Changquan), Aparna (Women’s 52kg), Divyanshi (Women’s 60kg) and Langlentombi Devi Hanjabam (Women’s Nanquan & Nandao).