Indian athlete Naorem Roshibina Devi, a two-time medallist at the Asian Games, secured the title of the International Wushu Federation’s (IWUF) female athlete of the year in the sanda category on January 23, following a month-long public voting period.
Roshibina, 23, emerged victorious with 93,545 votes, surpassing competitors Wu Xiaowei (46,753) from China and Shahrbano Mansouriyan Semiromi (88,179) from Iran. Her accolades include a bronze and a silver medal from the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games.
Hailing from Manipur, Roshibina, who previously won a bronze at the World Junior Wushu Championships in 2016, was honored with the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting accolade.
Despite falling short in the Hangzhou Asian Games women’s 60kg Wushu sanda event final against Xiaowei the previous year, Roshibina’s dedication and skill garnered recognition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Roshibina on her Silver Medal win in Wushu, Women’s Sanda 60 kg, praising her exceptional talent, relentless pursuit of excellence, discipline, and determination.
The IWUF reported that 45 applicants from 23 nations and regions participated in the public voting across various categories following the preliminary assessment by the IWUF Athletes Committee.
