Asian Games 2023: Naorem Roshibina Devi wins silver in women's 60kg Wushu sanda

The athlete upgraded her medal from the previous Asian Games.

"I will give my life to play for gold", these were words of Roshibina Devi after qualifying for the final of the women's 60kg Sanda Wushu finals. The 23-year-old lived up to the words as he gave her everything against China's Wu Xiaowei but unfortunately had to settle for a silver after losing (0-2) at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023.

Wu was quick on her feet right from the start with kicks to Roshibina's face. The Chinese athlete got some important points with a takedown in the following move. But the Indian wasn't the one who was going to give up easily as she got Wu out of the court in the first round. Devi's strategy was to repeat the same which would result in India winning the round.

However Wu defended well to win the first round not allowing the Indian to score points. The Manipuri-born girl got ahead in the second round with a takedown and both players attacked each other's thighs with quick kicks. Just when it seemed that the game would go into the decider, a kick in the torso from Wu towards the end sealed the gold for China.

Roshibina was disappointed to lose out on the gold, but she would be proud to have upgraded her bronze medal from the Jakarta Asian Games 2018 to a silver here in Hangzhou. Given the fact that the last week has not been a smooth build-up for the combat fighter.

Her friend and sparring partner Onilu Tega was among three Indian wushu participants from Arunachal Pradesh, who were denied visas by the Chinese government for them to compete here. The silver is no mean feat and it has certainly brought smiles to the faces of Manipur people just like Miraibai Chanu did two years back in the Olympics.