Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu creates history with India's first-ever Wushu medal at Youth Olympics 2026

Indian Wushu athlete Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu scripted history on Tuesday, November 3, by winning a bronze medal in the women's changquan combined event at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. The 15-year-old's achievement marks India's first-ever Wushu medal at an Olympic event.

Competing at the Dakar Expo Centre, Chanu delivered a combined score of 18.039 to secure a place on the podium. She scored 8.723 in Gunshu and 9.316 in Changquan to finish third in the event.

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Egypt's Sondos Sonbol claimed the gold medal with a score of 18.660, while Venezuela's Valeria Frannerys Dudamel Alvarado secured silver.

Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu's historic Wushu medal

Chanu's bronze medal holds particular significance as Wushu made its debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. The Indian teenager made the most of the opportunity, delivering a podium finish in the sport's first appearance at the competition.

Wushu has previously featured at the senior Summer Olympics as a demonstration sport in 1936 and 2008. However, it was not included as a medal sport at either edition.

The 2026 Youth Olympics achievement is therefore a landmark moment for Indian Wushu, bringing the sport national recognition on an Olympic platform.

Who is Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu?

Hailing from Manipur, Chanu has steadily built her reputation in Wushu through performances at national and international competitions.

She won a gold medal at the 2025 Sub-Junior National Wushu Championship held in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. She subsequently claimed a bronze medal at the World Junior Wushu Championships in Tianjin, China, in March 2026.

Her latest achievement in Dakar adds another significant milestone to her young career and highlights India's emerging talent in the martial art.

India's medal tally at Youth Olympics 2026

Chanu's bronze is India's third medal at the ongoing Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.

Swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu secured bronze in the women's 200m freestyle event, while judoka Khushbu Darjada won silver in the women's 63kg category.

The 2026 edition marks the return of the Youth Olympic Games after an eight-year gap, with the previous edition held in Buenos Aires in 2018. Dakar is hosting the fourth edition of the competition, making it the first Olympic event to be held on the African continent.

India has sent a 17-member contingent competing across 11 sports at the Games, with athletes aiming to make their mark on the international stage.