Dakar: Fifteen-year-old martial artist Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu has created history by winning India’s first-ever Youth Olympic Games medal in wushu. Hailing from the northeastern state of Manipur, the young athlete secured a landmark bronze medal in the women's Changquan combined event at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. The milestone holds major significance as competitive wushu is making its official medal debut on the Youth Olympic stage in Dakar.

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Chanu accumulated a combined score of 18.039 points across her two routines to seal the third spot on the podium. Egypt's Sondos Sonbol took the gold medal with a tally of 18.660 points, while Venezuela's Valeria Frannerys Dudamel Alvarado claimed the silver medal with a total score of 18.199.

Resilient Comeback Across Gunshu and Changquan Routines

The combined discipline required competitors to demonstrate precision across two distinct taolu routines: gunshu (staff discipline) and changquan (long fist discipline). Chanu’s pursuit of a podium place was marked by tactical composure and resilience after a nervous start during the morning sessions.

Chanu initially secured fourth position following the gunshu phase, where she registered a score of 8.723 points. Undeterred by the strong international field, the Manipuri athlete delivered a stunning performance in her subsequent changquan routine, scoring 9.316 points to elevate herself into bronze-medal territory. "I felt a little bit scared," Chanu admitted in post-event media quotes published by Olympics.com. "My competitors were a little bit tough. That's why I felt a little scared." Her dramatic leap up the standings ensured she fulfilled her target of returning home with a medal.

Manipur Prodigy Elevates India's Growing Campaign

Chanu’s historic success highlights Manipur's enduring reputation as a nursery for world-class combat sports talent. Having honed her craft through junior national circuits and international junior competitions, the teenager entered the Dakar Games following strong performances at the preliminary qualification stages, where she moved into the finals with 17.982 points.

Her bronze marks India's third podium finish at the Dakar 2026 Games, adding to a campaign highlighted by judoka Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada’s silver in the 63kg category and swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu’s bronze in the 100m freestyle.