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From Hardship To Gold: Manipur’s Sudhir Meetei Road To KIBG 2026 Pencak Silat Glory

By IANS News January 08, 2026 • 16:32 PM View: 82

Khelo India Beach Games: Wahengbam Sudhir Meetei from Manipur has faced an unpredictable and challenging journey in Pencak Silat. Financial struggles forced him to prioritise earning a living, and a sudden injury during training nearly shattered his athletic aspirations.

Things became so challenging that he had to quit college after failing to pay his fifth-semester fees for his Bachelor of Physical Education. He then switched from the Tanding (combat) category to the Artistic category to continue playing the sport following his injury.

However, the 19-year-old has not only overcome these challenges but also carved out a niche for himself. He and Premchandra Yengkhom won the state’s first gold medal at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 here in Ganda.