Manipur's Langlentombi makes history as first Indian woman to win medal at Asian Taolu Cup

Manipur’s Hanjabam Langlentombi Devi has become the first Indian woman to win a silver medal at the Asian Taolu Cup, marking a significant milestone for Indian Wushu. The historic win came on July 10 at the inaugural Asian Taolu Cup and the second edition of the Asian Sanda Cup held in Songyuan, Jilin Province, China.

 

Langlentombi secured the silver in the Nanquan event with a score of 9.643, outperforming a competitive field of athletes from across Asia. Her performance not only earned her a podium finish but also placed India on the medal table at one of the continent's top-level Wushu events.

 

The two tournaments, hosted jointly by the Wushu Federation of Asia, saw participation from 271 athletes and officials representing 20 nations and regions. The competitions ran from July 4 and brought together some of the best talents in the sport.

 

Langlentombi hails from Wangkhei Ayangpalli in Imphal East district. She is the daughter of Hanjabam Jayadev Sharma and Kongbarilatpam Kamala Devi.

 

Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was among the first to extend his congratulations. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “We are immensely proud of your incredible performance at the 1st Asian Taolu Cup & 2nd Asian Sanda Cup, where you clinched the Silver Medal in the Nanquan event, and became the 1st Indian woman to achieve this honour. Keep soaring higher and continue to inspire our youth.”

 

The achievement is being seen as a breakthrough moment for Indian women in Wushu, a martial art that has steadily gained popularity but remains outside the Olympic fold. Langlentombi’s success could inspire greater participation and support for the sport in India, particularly in the Northeast, where martial arts have deep cultural roots.

 

The Indian Wushu community has hailed her performance as a defining moment, with national-level coaches and officials emphasising the need for increased training infrastructure and international exposure to build on such achievements.