Roshibina Devi takes Asian Games silver for a third straight podium finish

The final did not go her way. The longer record still tells a story worth stopping for.

Naorem Roshibina Devi won silver in the women's sanda 60kg event at the Asian Games in Nagoya on September 24. It was her third medal in three consecutive editions, following bronze in Jakarta in 2018 and silver at the Hangzhou Games held in 2023.

China's Zhang Xiaoyu won the final 2-0 at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall. Khel Now reported that Zhang took both rounds by unanimous 5-0 judging decisions. Those numbers describe the judges' decisions in each round, while 2-0 is the overall bout result.

A tough final after a short build-up

For the 25-year-old from Manipur, simply reaching these Games had been uncertain until close to the event. Reporting published by Rediff said she was a late addition to India's squad after the originally selected athlete withdrew through injury.

Roshibina said she learned of her inclusion around September 10 and had little preparation time before travelling. She credited her coach, Amit Pal, with helping her get ready and reach the final.

After the bout, she acknowledged the disappointment of missing gold again. She also said she wanted to learn from her mistakes and improve for future competitions. Zhang's side kicks had been particularly difficult to handle, she explained in the same report.

It is possible to feel disappointed about a final and recognise a strong tournament at the same time. Silver meant she had fought her way to the title contest. Losing that last bout did not erase the wins that brought her there.

Three editions, three medals

India's Prime Minister's Office confirmed the result in a congratulatory message, highlighting her medals at three successive Asian Games. Narendra Modi praised her consistency and determination.

That word, consistency, can sound less exciting than a single spectacular win. In sport it covers years of work, repeated selection battles and the need to perform again when the field changes. The next competition never awards a medal because of the previous one.

Khel Now also recorded Roshibina's 2-0 semi-final victory over Indonesia's Thania Kusumaningtyas. That result earned the opportunity to fight for gold. In the final, Zhang proved stronger, leaving Roshibina with another silver to add to her record.

For Indian fans, the result gives wushu another moment in the spotlight. For Roshibina, gold remains a target. Her record already contains something substantial: three Asian Games campaigns ending on the podium, across eight years. That takes more than one good day.