NAGOYA, Sept 24: India’s Roshibina Devi Naorem won the silver medal in the women’s 60kg sanda competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday after losing the final to China’s Zhang Xiaoyu.
Roshibina was defeated 0-2 by Zhang in the gold-medal bout, with the Chinese fighter winning both rounds 5-0. The result gave Roshibina her second consecutive Asian Games silver medal and extended her record of winning a medal at every Asian Games she has contested.
Zhang controlled the final from the opening exchanges and prevented Roshibina from establishing the rhythm she had shown in her earlier bouts. The Chinese athlete maintained her advantage across both rounds to secure the gold medal.
For Roshibina, the silver nevertheless represented another significant achievement in a career that has included podium finishes at three successive editions of the Asian Games.
Her Asian Games journey began in Jakarta in 2018, where she won bronze. She improved that result at the 2023 Hangzhou Games by taking silver. Her second place finish in Nagoya means she has now collected medals at the 2018, 2023 and 2026 editions.
Roshibina’s route to the final included a semifinal victory over Indonesia’s Kusumaningtyas Thani. The Indian fighter’s win guaranteed her a medal before she entered the final against Zhang.
The 60kg sanda competition brought together leading fighters from across Asia, making the medal an important addition to India’s campaign at the Games. Roshibina’s experience from previous continental competitions helped her negotiate the earlier stages before she faced Zhang in the final.
The Indian fighter had been one of the country’s key medal contenders in wushu before the competition began. Her qualification for the final ensured that India would take home another medal from the sport, regardless of the outcome of the gold-medal contest.
The final, however, proved difficult against Zhang, who kept the Indian at a disadvantage throughout the contest. With both rounds going 5-0 in favour of the Chinese fighter, the gold medal went to the host nation’s representative.
Roshibina’s silver also adds another medal to India’s growing tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. India had entered the day with medals already secured in cricket, shooting, weightlifting, soft tennis and badminton before further medals arrived on September 24.
Her achievement is particularly notable for its consistency. Winning medals at three consecutive Asian Games requires maintaining a high level across different editions and against changing competition. Roshibina has achieved that across Jakarta, Hangzhou and Aichi-Nagoya.
The wushu medal also continues India’s presence in combat sports at the Asian Games. Indian athletes have been competing across disciplines including wushu, boxing, wrestling and other martial arts events during the tournament.
Roshibina’s silver came after a campaign in which she successfully reached the final and remained in contention for the top position until the closing bout. Although she could not overcome Zhang, the result ensured another Asian Games medal for the Indian fighter.
The Aichi-Nagoya silver also adds to Roshibina’s growing international record. Her progression from bronze in 2018 to silver in 2023 and another silver in 2026 reflects her continued presence at the top level of Asian wushu.
For India, the result provides another medal from an individual combat-sport event and strengthens the country’s overall medal tally at the Games.
Roshibina will leave Nagoya with a silver medal and another milestone in her Asian Games career. Her three successive podium finishes make her one of India’s most consistent performers in the sport at the continental level.