Lanchenbi Chanu made history on November 3, 2026, by winning a bronze medal in wushu at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. The 15-year-old athlete from Manipur secured third place in the women’s Changquan combined event, giving India its first-ever wushu medal at the Youth Olympic Games. Her achievement is an important moment for Indian sports and brings attention to the growing talent of young athletes from the Northeast.

India’s First Wushu Medal at the Youth Olympic Games

Lanchenbi Chanu’s bronze medal is a historic achievement because India had never won a wushu medal at the Youth Olympic Games before. She competed against young athletes from different countries and finished third with a total score of 18.039 points.

Her performance showed strong technical ability, balance and control. Wushu routines require athletes to perform carefully planned movements with speed, strength and accuracy. Competitors are judged on the quality and execution of their routines.

Chanu’s medal also highlights Manipur’s contribution to Indian sports. The state has produced many talented athletes in disciplines such as boxing, hockey, weightlifting and martial arts. Her success adds another achievement to the sporting history of the region.

Performance in the Changquan Combined Event

The women’s Changquan combined event included two routines: Gunshu and Changquan. Lanchenbi Chanu scored a total of 18.039 points from these two performances.

Her scores were:

Gunshu: 8.723 points
Changquan: 9.316 points
Total: 18.039 points

Egypt’s Sondos Sonbol won the gold medal with 18.660 points. Venezuela’s Valeria Frannerys Dudamel Alvarado secured silver with 18.199 points.

Chanu finished behind the two athletes to claim bronze. The small difference between the scores shows how closely the competitors performed in this event.

What Are Changquan and Gunshu?

Changquan and Gunshu are two forms of taolu, a discipline of competitive wushu. Taolu involves performing a series of movements and techniques in a set routine. Judges assess athletes based on their technical skills, balance, coordination, difficulty and overall performance.

Changquan means “long fist” and is a style of Chinese martial arts. It includes fast movements, high kicks, jumps, extended stances and powerful techniques. Athletes need flexibility, strength and good body control to perform the routine successfully.

Gunshu is a weapon-based taolu event that uses a long staff. Athletes perform different movements with the staff, including swings, strikes, turns and coordinated body actions. The routine is judged on technical quality and performance rather than on points scored against an opponent.

Competitive wushu also includes another major discipline called sanda. Unlike taolu, sanda is a full-contact combat sport in which two competitors fight using approved striking and throwing techniques.

Wushu Makes Its Youth Olympic Games Debut

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games marked the first time wushu was included as a medal sport at the competition. This gave young wushu athletes an opportunity to compete on one of the world’s major youth sporting platforms.

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games are being held in Dakar, Senegal. It is the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games to take place in Africa. The event brings together young athletes from different countries to compete in several sports and represent their National Olympic Committees.

The inclusion of wushu is an important step in giving greater international exposure to the martial art. It also creates more opportunities for young athletes to showcase their skills and gain experience at a major international event.

India’s Medal Tally at Dakar Youth Olympics

Lanchenbi Chanu’s bronze was India’s third medal at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, according to the reported results.

Before her achievement, Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada won silver in judo, while swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu secured bronze. Chanu’s medal added wushu to the list of sports in which Indian athletes won medals at the competition.

The three medals came from different sporting disciplines, showing the variety of talent among India’s young athletes. Their performances also brought attention to the country’s participation in the international youth sporting event.

Lanchenbi Chanu’s Earlier International Achievement

Lanchenbi Chanu had already shown her ability on the international stage before the Dakar Youth Olympic Games. She won a bronze medal in the girls’ youth Changquan event at the 2026 World Junior Wushu Championships in Tianjin, China.

Her earlier performance provided valuable international experience and helped establish her presence in youth wushu competitions. Winning another international medal at the Youth Olympic Games is a significant step in her sporting journey.

At just 15 years old, Chanu has achieved an important milestone for Indian wushu. Her historic bronze medal in Dakar has brought recognition to Manipur and created greater visibility for the sport in India.