Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, 23 Aug: Nyeman Wangsu and Rupa Bayor from Arunachal Pradesh have been selected to represent India at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from 19 September to 4 October.
They are among the 492 athletes approved by the Sports Ministry for the Games.
Wangsu will compete in women's Changquan (Wushu), while Bayor will take part in individual Poomsae (Taekwondo).
Wangsu, along with Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu missed the 2023 Asian Games in China after being denied visas by the host country.
She began her Wushu training in 2013 under the guidance of coach Maibam Premchandra Singh. From her early years of training to reaching the international stage, her journey has been marked by exceptional dedication, discipline, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to sporting excellence.
A three-time National Games gold medallist, she has many a medal to her credit.
At the national level, she won gold medals in three consecutive NGs held in Gujarat (2022), Goa (2023) and Uttarakhand (2025).
At senior national championships, she has won at least 17 gold medals since 2019.
Besides, she won a gold medal each in the Khelo India Women's League held in Chandigarh in 2023 and 2025.
Wangsu also claimed three gold medals in the University Games held in 2023.
At the international stage, she secured one gold medal and one silver medal in the Moscow Wushu Stars held in 2022, two bronze medals in 2023, and three silver medals in 2025.
Wangshu secured sixth place in the 10th Asian Wushu Championships held in Macau, China in 2024, 7th place in the 17th World Wushu Championships held in Brazil in 2025, and 10th place in the 16th edition of the championships held in the USA in 2023.
She also qualified for the World University Games in 2023.
Bayor, a celebrated taekwondo player, was named the Best Taekwondo Poomsae Player of the Year at the 2026 India Taekwondo Gala Awards.
She made history by becoming the first Indian Taekwondo athlete to achieve World Rank 6 and Asia Rank 1. According to worldtkd.simplycompete.com, she is currently ranked 7th in the world in the women's below 30 years in the recognised poomsae.
Hailing from Sippi village, Bayor's rise to international prominence reflects exceptional dedication, hard work, and resilience in the face of challenges.
She won a bronze medal at the Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia this year.
With this achievement, she became the first Indian to win two consecutive medals at the Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, marking a proud moment for the nation, especially for Arunachal Pradesh.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein congratulated both Wangsu and Bayor on their selection for the Asian Games and wished them success.
"Hearty congratulations to Miss Rupa Bayor on her selection to represent Team India in Taeakwondo at the 20th Asian Games. Wishing you strength, success and glory," Mein wrote on his social media handle X.
Wishing Wangsu all the best for the Games, Mein wrote: "Heartiest congratulations to Miss Nyeman Wangsu on earning her well-deserved place in Team India for Wushu at the 20th Asian Games, 2026 in Japan."
"Wishing you the very best as you take on this prestigious international stage," Mein wrote on X.
Congratulating Wangsu, the All Arunachal Pradesh Wushu Association said that her achievement is much more than an individual sporting success.
"It represents a significant chapter in the history of Wushu in Arunachal Pradesh and demonstrates the growing strength, talent and potential of the state's athletes," AAPWA general secretary John Tara Bakey said.
"Her journey from Kanubari in Longding district to the international sporting arena stands as an inspiration to aspiring athletes across Arunachal Pradesh, particularly young sportspersons from rural and remote areas," he said.
The AAPWA general secretary expressed confidence that she would continue to uphold the pride and honour of Arunachal and India at the 2026 Asian Games.
"Her first major breakthrough came when she qualified to represent India at the 2023 Gaungzhou Asian Games in China. But unfortunately, she could not compete because of the stapled-visa issue. These setbacks, however, did not diminish her determination. Instead, they strengthened her resolve to continue her journey towards representing India at the highest level of Asian sport," he added.
