In Chengdu, China, history was scripted for Indian martial arts. Namrata Batra, a 24-year-old four-time national champion from India, clinched the silver medal in the women’s 52kg Wushu Sanda event at the World Games 2025 India’s first-ever medal in the sport at this prestigious multi-sport event.
This was not just a medal; it was a statement. A statement that Indian Wushu has arrived on the global stage, and it can now challenge the sport’s traditional powerhouses.
The World Games, held from August 8–12 at the Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium, showcased disciplines outside the Olympic programme, with Wushu enjoying prime billing. Featuring both Taolu (forms) and Sanda (full-contact combat), the event drew 102 athletes from 38 nations, making Batra’s achievement even more remarkable.
Sanda, known for its combination of striking and grappling, is physically demanding and tactically complex. In India, it’s also the discipline where the majority of the nation’s international Wushu medals have come from a sign of strategic focus and training excellence in this format.
The Road to Chengdu Glory
Batra entered the tournament in peak form, fresh from winning gold at the Moscow Star International Wushu Championship just a month earlier. At the World Games, she delivered back-to-back dominant 2–0 wins in the quarter-final against Lebanon’s Barbara El Rassi and the semi-final against the Philippines’ Krizan Faith Collado.
These performances not only secured her a place in the final but also guaranteed India its first Wushu medal at the World Games.
The gold medal bout saw Batra face local favourite and reigning world champion Chen Mengyue of China. Competing in front of a roaring home crowd, Chen’s superior speed and precision earned her a 2–0 victory. For Batra, it was a hard-fought silver—an achievement made even more significant given China’s dominance in Wushu, especially in Sanda.
Chen, the 2023 World Wushu Championships gold medallist, is considered one of the sport’s elite. That Batra reached this stage against such an opponent shows the rising standard of Indian Wushu.

Batra’s silver was India’s second medal at the World Games 2025, following Rishabh Yadav’s bronze in men’s compound archery. It also added to India’s all-time World Games tally, now at seven medals across multiple sports including snooker, powerlifting, badminton, and archery. For Wushu, this was a watershed moment. The achievement is expected to inspire a new generation of athletes and increase grassroots participation, particularly among young women.
Support Systems and Growth
The rise of athletes like Batra has been aided by targeted government initiatives such as the Khelo India Women’s Wushu League, with dedicated prize money to encourage participation across all age categories. The Wushu Association of India, recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, has worked alongside the Sports Authority of India to provide structured training and international exposure.
States like Manipur have emerged as strongholds of the sport, producing multiple national champions and hosting India’s first sports university, further deepening the talent pool.
A Generation of Champions
Batra’s success joins a growing list of Indian Wushu achievements on the global stage:
- Praveen Kumar – 2019 World Wushu Championships gold (Men’s Sanda 48kg)
- Rajat Charak – 2025 Asia Cup gold
- Naorem Roshibina Devi – 2023 Asian Games silver (Women’s Sanda 60kg)
- Ayeera Chisti – Multiple international golds, including Moscow Stars 2024
These successes point to a clear trend: India’s Wushu is no longer emerging—it is competing.
The significance of Batra’s silver lies in its potential ripple effects. Increased recognition could attract more investment, improve infrastructure, and ensure that Indian athletes continue to push boundaries. If Wushu is ever included in the Olympic Games, achievements like Batra’s will serve as a foundation for future podium finishes.
As the sport continues to grow, Namrata Batra’s silver will be remembered not as an isolated triumph but as the moment Indian Wushu announced itself to the world confident, competitive, and ready for more.
A new benchmark has been set.
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