Wahengbam Sudhir Meetei partnering with Premchandra Yengkhom secured Manipur’s first gold medal at the ongoing Khelo India Beach Games 2026 in Diu. (Photo Courtesy: KIDG Media)
Diu, January 8 (MExN): Wahengbam Sudhir Meetei of Manipur scripted a memorable chapter in the state’s sporting history by winning a gold medal in Pencak Silat at the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2026 in Diu.
Partnering Premchandra Yengkhom in the Ganda category, the duo secured Manipur’s first gold medal of the 2026 edition.
The achievement marked a significant milestone for the 19-year-old athlete, whose journey to the top of the podium has been shaped by financial hardship, injury, and sustained perseverance.
As per a KIBG media release, Sudhir comes from a modest background and balances sport with livelihood responsibilities.
His father runs a small livestock business, while Sudhir supplements the family income by working as a welder and assisting in selling pigs, earning about Rs 500 a day. Financial constraints forced him to discontinue his Bachelor of Physical Education course after the fifth semester.
Sudhir’s sporting career also faced a major setback following a freak training injury that nearly ended his prospects in competitive Pencak Silat.
In the absence of proper mat flooring at his academy, his left foot got lodged in a hole during training, resulting in a serious toe injury.
The incident compelled him to shift from the Tanding (combat) category to the Artistic and Performance category to continue competing.
A trainee of the Nawang Sports Academy in Imphal, Sudhir took up Pencak Silat in 2018 and rose quickly through the ranks.
He won gold medals at the junior national championships in the 45–50kg and later the 50–55kg Tanding categories, followed by a silver medal at the 2022 Northeast Games.
After two years of quiet rebuilding post-injury, he returned strongly, clinching gold in the Ganda category at the All India National Championships in Lucknow and finishing fourth at the Asian Pencak Silat Championship in Vietnam.
Making his debut at the KIBG 2026, Sudhir delivered a composed performance on the challenging sandy surface, helping Manipur clinch the gold medal.
Reflecting on the moment, he said the experience in Diu was among the toughest tests of his career, given the unfamiliar conditions, but described winning gold on the Khelo India platform as a deeply fulfilling achievement.
As per the release, the KIBG are being organised under the sports competition and talent development vertical of the Khelo India Scheme. The first edition was held from May 19 to May 24, 2025, in Diu.
The second edition of KIBG, an initiative of the Union Sports Ministry, is being held from January 5 to 10 and features six medal sports: Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Sepak Takraw, Beach Kabaddi, Pencak Silat, and Open Water Swimming. Mallakhamb and Tug of War are included as non-medal events.
