India’s Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu has created history by winning a bronze medal in Wushu at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. With this achievement, she has become the first Indian athlete to win a Wushu medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
The young athlete from Manipur secured bronze in the women’s Changquan Combined event on November 3, 2026, finishing third with an impressive combined score of 18.039 points.
Her achievement marks an important milestone for Indian Wushu, particularly because Wushu is making its debut as a medal sport at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Egypt’s Sondos Sonbol won gold with 18.660 points, while Venezuela’s Valeria Frannerys Dudamel Alvarado secured silver with 18.199 points.
Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu: Key Highlights
- Athlete: Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu
- Country: India
- Home State: Manipur
- Sport: Wushu
- Competition: Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
- Event: Women’s Changquan Combined
- Medal: Bronze
- Total Score: 18.039 points
- Competition Date: November 3, 2026
- Historic Achievement: India’s first Wushu medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
1. How Did Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu Win the Bronze Medal?
Rajkumari delivered an impressive performance in the women’s Changquan Combined event, which consists of two routines: Gunshu and Changquan.
She accumulated a combined score of 18.039 points across the two disciplines.
Her final scores were:
| Wushu Discipline | Score |
|---|---|
| Gunshu (Weapon Routine) | 8.723 |
| Changquan (Bare-Handed Routine) | 9.316 |
| Combined Score | 18.039 |
- Chanu initially finished fourth in the Gunshu segment with 8.723 points.
- However, she produced a strong performance in Changquan, scoring 9.316 points and finishing second in that segment.
- Her combined performance secured third place overall and earned her the bronze medal.
2. Medal Winners: Women’s Changquan Combined Event
The final standings were:
| Position | Athlete | Country | Score | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sondos Sonbol | Egypt | 18.660 | Gold |
| 2 | Valeria Frannerys Dudamel Alvarado | Venezuela | 18.199 | Silver |
| 3 | Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu | India | 18.039 | Bronze |
Chanu finished just 0.160 points behind the silver medallist, highlighting the close competition.
3. Why Is Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu’s Achievement Historic?
Her bronze medal is significant for Indian sports for several reasons.
First Indian Wushu Medallist at Youth Olympics: Chanu became the first Indian athlete to win a Wushu medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
Wushu’s Youth Olympic Debut: Dakar 2026 marks the first time Wushu has been included as a medal sport at the Youth Olympic Games.
Recognition for Manipur: Her achievement highlights the contribution of Manipur to India’s growing presence in international Wushu.
Inspiration for Young Athletes: Her success could encourage more young Indians to pursue martial arts and compete internationally.
4. Who Is Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu?
Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu is a young Indian Wushu athlete from Manipur.
She has steadily developed her reputation through performances at national and international competitions.
Before her historic Youth Olympic achievement, she had already demonstrated her potential in junior Wushu competitions.
Her notable achievements include:
- Gold medal at the 2025 Sub-Junior National Wushu Championship in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu.
- Bronze medal at the 2026 World Junior Wushu Championships in Tianjin, China.
- Bronze medal in the women’s Changquan Combined event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Her latest achievement represents an important step forward in her international sporting career.
5. What Is Wushu?
Wushu is a Chinese martial art that combines traditional fighting techniques, physical fitness, flexibility, balance and athletic performance.
The sport has two major competitive categories:
1. Taolu: A performance-based discipline in which athletes demonstrate choreographed martial arts routines involving techniques, movements, jumps and weapons.
2. Sanda: A combat discipline involving controlled fighting techniques such as punches, kicks, throws and defensive movements.
Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu competed in the Taolu discipline.
Her Changquan Combined event involved two routines:
- Gunshu: A traditional Chinese staff-based weapon routine.
- Changquan: A bare-handed routine characterised by extended movements, speed, flexibility and powerful techniques.
The scores from both routines are combined to determine the final standings.
6. India’s Medal Tally at Dakar Youth Olympics 2026
Rajkumari’s bronze medal increased India’s medal tally at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games to three at the time of her victory.
India’s medal winners included:
| Athlete | Sport | Event | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada | Judo | Women’s 63 kg | Silver |
| Dhinidhi Desinghu | Swimming | Women’s 100m Freestyle | Bronze |
| Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu | Wushu | Women’s Changquan Combined | Bronze |
India’s performance highlighted the growing participation of young Indian athletes across different sporting disciplines.
7. About the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
- The 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games are being held in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026.
- The event is historically significant because it is the first Olympic event hosted on the African continent.
- It is also the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games.
- The previous edition was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2018.
- The Dakar Games provide an international platform for young athletes to compete and gain experience at the highest level of youth sport.
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