Asian Games 2023: Roshibina Devi Naorem wins silver medal in wushu, dedicates it to Manipur

Roshibina Devi Naorem won a silver medal in the women’s 60kg category in wushu at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Thursday. The medal extended India’s medal haul at the Games to 23 medals. Naorem went down to China’s Xiaowei Wu with judges ruling in favour of the local athlete after both rounds. In the first round, Wu earned valuable points for a takedown. Roshibina tried to make inroads by clutching onto her opponent’s leg but was unable to push her off the mat. In the second round, Roshibina started well and was quickly up and running with a takedown. But that was negated late in the round with Wu getting a successful kick to the torso. This was already a historic feat for Roshibina as she became only the second Indian to reach a wushu final since Sandhyarani Devi during the 2010 Games at Guangzhou. However, Roshibina had won a bronze medal in the same weight category during the Jakarta Asian Games in 2018. For Roshibina, the silver medal in the sanda event of wushu was a victory for the victims of Manipur violence that has been raging in her state since May. Hailing from the Meitei community in Kwashiphai village in Bishnupur district adjoining Churachandpur, which is dominated by the rival Kuki ethnic community, Roshibina broke down in the mixed zone following the silver medal. “Manipur is burning. Fighting is going on in Manipur. I can’t go to my village. I want to dedicate this medal to those who are protecting us and suffering there,” said Roshibina. Crying inconsolably, she added, “I don’t know what will happen, the fighting has been continuing. When will it stop and return to normal life of earlier times.” Roshibina stated she had spoken to her parents on Wednesday and they asked her to focus on the final without getting distracted by the violence. “They told me to focus on the match and not on other things. My family is fine. I don’t speak to them regularly as my coaches say the violence at home will distract me. “We prepared very well and we could do well here and won a silver,” she added. In the run up to the final, she had dedicated the assured medal to the three wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh who could not travel to China because of visa complications . “I want to win (the gold) for my three friends who could not make it here. I am used to having Onilu Tega around. We often train together and are good friends. In big events like these, it is important to have someone you are comfortable with,” she said. She was referring to the absence of Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu. (with inputs from PTI)