Manipur: Wahengbam Sudhir wins Pencak Silat Gold at Khelo India Beach Games 2026
Guwahati: Wahengbam Sudhir Meetei of Manipur clinched the state’s first-ever gold medal in Pencak Silat at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026, overcoming financial distress and a serious injury that once threatened to end his sporting career.
The 19-year-old athlete battled prolonged hardship, juggling training with earning a livelihood to support his family. Financial constraints forced him to discontinue his Bachelor of Physical Education course after he failed to pay his fifth-semester fees, a setback that temporarily derailed his academic and sporting ambitions.
Sudhir also suffered a major injury during training that compelled him to abandon the Tanding (combat) category. Determined to continue, he switched to the Artistic category, a move that reshaped his career. Teaming up with Premchandra Yengkhom, he won gold in the Ganda event at the Khelo India Beach Games in Diu, scripting a historic moment for Manipur.
The eldest of three brothers, Sudhir hails from a modest family. His father runs a small livestock business, while Sudhir works as a welder for a daily wage of Rs 500 and helps sell pigs to supplement the household income. He said the earnings barely meet daily expenses, prompting him to shoulder family responsibilities, including supporting his younger brothers, who are school-going students and train at the same academy.
A trainee of the Nawang Sports Academy in Imphal, Sudhir took up Pencak Silat in 2018, inspired by senior players. He rose quickly through the ranks, winning junior national gold medals in the 45–50 kg and later the 50–55 kg Tanding categories, and secured a silver medal at the 2022 Northeast Games.
His progress stalled after a training accident caused by the absence of proper mat flooring at the academy, when his foot got stuck in a hole, severely injuring his toe. The injury forced him to reassess his future, prompting a shift to Artistic and Performance events. He trained quietly for nearly two years with renewed resolve.
That perseverance paid off when Sudhir won gold in Ganda at the All India National Championships in Lucknow. He later finished fourth at the Asian Pencak Silat Championship in Vietnam, narrowly missing the podium in his first international appearance.
At the Khelo India Beach Games, Sudhir rose to the occasion despite the challenge of performing on sand, an unfamiliar surface. He said the final tested him mentally, as thoughts of promises made to his parents weighed heavily, but the gold medal made the struggle worthwhile.
Describing the Khelo India Beach Games as the toughest competition of his career so far, Sudhir said competing on the national platform was special, and returning home with a gold medal made the achievement deeply meaningful.