India’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya have been overshadowed by a bitter selection dispute involving wushu athlete Divyanshi Choudhary, who was dropped from the women’s 60kg Sanda category days before the contingent’s departure for Japan.
In a nearly nine-minute video posted online on Friday, the 18-year-old from Kota said she had endured months of mental harassment and expressed that she no longer saw a reason to keep living.
Choudhary, who had received the Indian kit and even attended the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) send-off ceremony, was dropped from the contingent citing injury concerns. Two-time Asian Games medallist Naorem Roshibina Devi was named as her replacement.
The youngster acknowledged that she was injured but claimed that she was cleared by a doctor to compete.
Choudhary claimed that her axing was a conspiracy to accommodate Roshibina in the Indian contingent.
Choudhary had beaten Roshibina in the selection trials.
The video, which spread rapidly across social media, triggered widespread concern for her wellbeing and reignited questions about how national federations handle athlete grievances.
Choudhary further alleged that Roshibina, an Arjuna awardee, had used her standing to influence the final call, and questioned the fitness rationale given for the swap.
The Wushu Association of India, in a press statement issued by Secretary Vijay Saraf, refuted Choudhary’s claims.
According to the federation, she won the selection trials held in Srinagar from June 5 to 8 and was cleared for the Games through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports sanction. She reported to the preparatory camp at NIS Patiala on August 10, but by mid-August was complaining of recurring hamstring pain and training only intermittently.
The statement says that after she stopped training altogether on August 21, a team physio found swelling in her knee.
An MRI conducted on August 23 at Manipal Hospital, followed by review from SAI’s sports medicine department and an orthopaedic consultation, revealed a partial high-grade ACL tear with large effusion.
Doctors advised her to avoid competitive training until recovery and recommended surgery.
The federation maintained it to be the reason why they added standby athlete Roshibina to the squad just day’s before the team’s departure to Aichi-Nagoya.
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