Teenage wushu athlete threatens suicide after Asian Games backfire: Controversy explained

18-year-old Indian wushu athlete Divyanshi has threatened to take her own life after being dropped from the Indian Asian Games team at the last minute. She claimed she was unfairly eliminated from the 60kg Sanda category, just days before the contingent left for Japan.

In the nearly nine-minute video released on Friday, September 11, the 18-year-old girl said she had been psychologically harassed for months and no longer saw the meaning of life. Divyanshi was replaced in the Asian Games squad by Roshibina Devi, the 2022 Asian Games silver medalist whom she defeated in the selection trials.

WHY WAS DIVYANSHI REMOVED?

The Wushu Federation said Divyanshi was removed from the team after an ACL injury was found during a medical and that she had not trained properly in preparation for the Games. However, her coach Ashok Gautam has strongly disputed the federation’s version, claiming that Divyanshi’s injury was not serious enough to rule her out of the Asian Games and questioning the decision to replace her at the last minute.

The controversy has now escalated after Divyanshi, in her video from the national camp in Patiala, alleged, among other things, that Roshibina had deliberately injured her during training.

DIVYANSHI DECLARES THAT SHE HAS PASSED ALL THE FIVE ATTEMPTS

According to Divyanshi’s coach Ashok Gautam, the 18-year-old established herself as the No. 1 athlete in the 60kg category through a series of selection trials held last year. Gautam claimed that Divyanshi competed in five trials and came out on top in all five, strengthening her case for a place in the Indian team for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Her eventual replacement by Roshibina Devi has therefore raised questions in Divyanshi’s camp, especially since the two athletes met during the final selection trials. Roshibina finished fourth in the trials and lost the semi-finals to Divyanshi.

“She had 5 exams in the last year and was No. 1 in all of them,” Gautam told India Today in an exclusive interview.

“Her name was removed at the last minute and Roshibina Devi was included. She is ranked 4th in trials and lost to Divyanshi in the semi-finals.”

An Arjuna awardee and 2022 Asian Games silver medallist, Roshibina has considerably more experience on the international stage. Gautam went on to make a serious allegation regarding the selection process, claiming that Roshibina used her influence to secure her place in the team.

“Since she is an Arjuna awardee, she used her powers to dump Divyanshi. And she manipulated herself into it,” he claimed. Divyanshi Chaudhary. (Photo: X)

WHAT DOES THE WUSHU FEDERATION SAY?

The Wushu Federation’s explanation for Divyanshi’s exclusion centers on her prowess. According to the federation, Divyanshi hid a knee injury and did not train properly in preparation for the Asian Games. A subsequent medical examination revealed an ACL injury, after which she was ruled ineligible for the Games.

The injury became the basis for the decision to remove her from the squad and bring Roshibina to the team. However, Divyanshi’s camp strongly rejected the suggestion that the injury was serious enough to prevent her from competing.

Gautam claimed that the injury occurred during the national camp and described it as a routine sports injury and not one that should automatically rule her out of the Asian Games.

“The injury happened during the camp. It’s a normal injury. The doctors have repeatedly given her in writing that she can play with taping. It’s not that serious an injury. If there’s a problem, it can be treated, but it’s not a major problem,” he said.

ROSHIBINA HAS INJURY PROBLEMS OF HIS OWN

Gautam also questioned the decision to use the fitness argument on Divyanshi in selecting Roshibina.

“And what is the injury of the other girl, Roshibina Devi, who is selected? She has an ACL injury in both her legs and also suffered a torn meniscus. Both her legs are injured, yet they are sending her,” he claimed.

Gautam further questioned Roshiba’s recent competition record, claiming that she had not won a medal or participated in a camp in four years and had suffered a first-round defeat at the recent tournament in China. He also claimed that Roshibina did not meet the selection criteria applied to Divyanshi.

“According to the selection criteria, there should be an international level medal within two years. He does not have any international medal. He does not even have a national medal in the last four years,” claimed Gautam.

CLAIMS OF HARASSMENT

However, for Divyanshi, the biggest grievance seems to be not just that she was removed from the Asian Games team, but the manner in which the decision was communicated to her. In her video, she claimed that she was not properly informed before her name was removed from the unit and that she was not given the opportunity to present her medical reports or explain her condition.

“You cut my name and then you don’t even tell me. Why? At least tell me. I also have the right to present my side. I’m 18 now and I have the right to speak. I needed to present my opinion at that time. Why wasn’t I allowed to? I also needed to show the medical report,” she said.

Divyanshi’s report suggests that the sudden change in the team left her struggling to understand why she was selected for the Asian Games and dropped from the team. The episode was particularly difficult for the teenager because, according to her account, there was no indication that her position was in jeopardy.

She also questioned why she was not given the opportunity to submit her medical reports to the authorities before a final decision was made. While the claims do not directly prove that the tender process was rigged, they do offer insight into how the matter was mishandled.

THEY TRY TO HURT ME: DIVYANSHI

The controversy took another turn in Divyanshi’s video when she alleged that she was subjected to continuous mental harassment in the national camp. She said the situation lasted from June and July and left her emotionally drained.

“I am extremely forced to do all this. I am extremely fed up both of staying here and everything that has happened and I think there is no point in living anymore. Tell me, is it right to psychologically harass someone like this? I have been psychologically harassed to such an extent. I have been subjected to this since July. From June to July, she wants me all the time, Asian until now, Asian Games,” said Divyanshi.

Divyanshi also leveled serious allegations against Roshibina, claiming that the senior sportsperson intentionally injured her during practice. According to Divyanshi, the incident took place during the team’s camp in Srinagar when she was preparing for the Asian Games.

“She goes to the sports minister sir, she goes everywhere and misuses her power. I am asking the federation with folded hands. I defeated her in the final selections. After that they physically harassed me,” she said.

“You know, with 10 days left in our camp in Srinagar, she intentionally injured my shoulder. I didn’t train for four or five days because of that.”

It is against this background that Divyanshi made her most serious remarks in the video. India Today has learned that the matter is far from over as Divyanshi’s camp is trying to reverse the decision by approaching ministerial channels.

However, with just two days left until the contingent leaves for Nagoya, it seems unlikely that much will change.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

12 Sep 2026 12:59 IST