Indian wushu player’s last-minute Asian Games axing sparks row

Federation says 18-year-old Divyanshi Choudhary was from Asian Games squad after she had attempted to hide a knee injury 

Updated : Sep 12, 2026 00:41 IST , NEW DELHI - 4 MINS READ

Divyanshi Choudhary has alleged that she is being unfairly treated after being droped from the Indian wushu squad days before the squad was to leave for Japan. | Photo Credit: Screengrab/IG

Standing on the roof of her hostel at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, wushu player Divyanshi Choudhary recorded a video on her Instagram social media profile. The last few posts the 18-year-old had made were all about the excitement she felt as she counted down the days to the Asian Games. She had posted pictures of her kit laid out on her bed, scenes from the send off ceremony of the Indian team in New Delhi a couple of days ago.

In her latest video though, Divyanshi was dejected and teary eyed.

She had just learned that she had been dropped from the squad in the women’s 60kg category and replaced by Roshibina Devi Naorem, whom she had earlier beaten in the selection trials for the Games in Nagoya. Teary-eyed, she alleged she was being unfairly treated.

“I’m tired of this... I have been mentally harassed so much. Since June, July, they have been after me because she (Roshibina) wanted to go. Given that I beat her, why is it a problem for her now,” Divyanshi said in a video message. “I beat her, it’s my right to go there (Japan). She has been knocking at different doors...it’s abuse of power,” Divyanshi said.

Speaking to Sportstar, Divyanshi’s father Sunil said that Divyanshi was only informed of the decision that she was being dropped from the team on Friday morning, that no reason was given for her removal and alleged that the plan was actually to inform when she reached the airport that she would not be flying out with the team. He also questioned the selection of Roshibina Devi – a world medallist, two-time Asian medallist and Arjuna awardee in Divyanshi’s place.

“Divyanshi beat Roshibina in the semifinals of the trials. If the federation had to send someone, they should have sent the individual who Divyanshi beat in the final,” Sunil said.

The allegations were disputed by the Wushu Federation of India. Speaking to Sportstar, Federation president Jitender Bajwa said that the Divyanshi’s name was not removed from the team by them but by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) after it was discovered that she was hiding a knee injury.

“Divyanshi joined the national camp which was organised by SAI a month back. She was carrying a knee injury and was trying to hide it by avoiding training. When SAI eventually found out about this, the replaced her name,” Bajwa said.

Divyanshi’s father Sunil admitted that she had got an injury but stated it was being treated. “After she got an injury, we got Divyanshi checked by a doctor. She had an injury to her ACL (Anterior Cruiciate ligament). The doctor said it could be treated by rehabilitation,” he said.

This too was disputed by Bajwa.

“It was not our call to remove Divyanshi’s name. The coaches in the camp had recommended that Divyanshi be checked for an injury because she was not training. Eventually, the coaches informed SAI which arranged for a medical test which showed she was carrying a knee injury. They couldn’t carry an injured athlete to the Asian Games so they had to remove her name,” he said.

Bajwa added that Divyanshi had been replaced by Roshibina – who had been beaten in the semifinals of the trials and not the finalists -- not because they favoured her but because the losing finalists had also suffered an injury.

“The losing finalist, Himanshi of Chandigarh, suffered a fracture to her jaw which is why her name was not included. Instead the coaches had already recommended the name of Roshibina Devi as the replacement player for Divyanshi,” he said.

Bajwa added that the federation too was disappointed in Divyanshi missing out on the Asian Games. “She is a very talented athlete. She performed very well at the trials. It is bad luck that she will not be going to the Asian Games,” he said.