Manipur’s Ritu Chanu wheels past adversity, earns India call-up for Commonwealth Games

In a state often marked by conflict and uncertainty, Irengbam Ritu Chanu has emerged as a symbol of resilience, proving that ability is not defined by physical condition but by determination and mindset.
 

Hailing from Nambol Irenbam in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, Ritu has been selected to represent India in the women’s wheelchair basketball team at the Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow in 2026.
 

Her selection has triggered widespread appreciation across the state, with Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and several officials congratulating her for bringing pride to the state.
 

Speaking about her achievement, Ritu said representing India at an international platform is a dream come true. She is among three women players selected from across the country and has become the first woman wheelchair basketball player from Manipur to earn the honour.
 

Born to Irenbam Ibomcha and Indrani, Ritu lost a leg in a childhood accident, becoming a locomotor disability athlete. Despite personal and financial hardships, she pursued sports with unwavering determination.
 

Recalling her journey, Ritu said she was inspired to take up wheelchair basketball after attending a training camp organised by the state Social Welfare Department at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in 2022.
 

Within a year of taking up the sport, she represented Manipur at the national championship in 2023. Though the team could not achieve major success initially, the experience motivated her to work harder.
 

Her breakthrough came in the 2025 national championship, where Manipur finished runners-up, while Ritu was named Best Player and Emerging Player for her outstanding performance.
 

However, the journey has not been easy. Ritu highlighted the lack of dedicated infrastructure and sports equipment for wheelchair athletes in Manipur.
 

“There is no dedicated stadium for us to practice, and the wheelchairs we use are basic. Advanced states use sports wheelchairs costing nearly Rs 10 lakh, but ours cost only around Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. We often practice in stadiums meant for able-bodied athletes whenever they are free,” she said.
 

Coming from a financially struggling family, travelling long distances from her village to training venues in Imphal was another challenge. Yet, she credits her parents and her coach Md Yunus Khan for standing by her throughout her journey.
 

Coach Yunus Khan, who is also the General secretary of Wheelchair basketball association Manipur, said wheelchair basketball was introduced in Manipur in 2017 through camps organised by the Social Welfare Department. Despite limited resources, the sport gradually gained momentum in the state.

He said the association initially began with just five wheelchairs purchased with support from well-wishers. Today, the state has 22 wheelchair basketball players, including 10 women athletes.
 

Ritu also used her journey to inspire other differently abled individuals and their families, urging them not to hide their children due to stigma or social pressure.
 

“Everyone is gifted with some talent. The important thing is to recognise it and work hard,” she said.
 

Her journey from adversity to the international stage now stands as an inspiring example of courage, perseverance, and the power of sport to transform lives.