Wahengbam Sudhir Meetei’s rise in Pencak Silat has been shaped as much by hardship as by talent. Financial constraints, the need to support his family and a serious training injury once threatened to derail the Manipur youngster’s sporting ambitions, but resilience and determination have helped him script a remarkable turnaround.
The challenges were such that Sudhir was forced to discontinue his Bachelor of Physical Education course after being unable to pay his fifth-semester fees. An injury sustained during training further complicated matters, compelling him to move away from the Tanding (combat) category and transition into the Artistic discipline in order to continue in the sport.
Despite these setbacks, the 19-year-old has emerged stronger. Partnering with Premchandra Yengkhom, Sudhir won Manipur’s first gold medal at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 in Diu in the Ganda event, marking a significant milestone in his young career.
“We are a family of five, and I’m the eldest of the three brothers. My father runs a small livestock business, and I assist him by selling pigs after finishing my work as a welder, for which I’m paid Rs 500 per day. The business isn’t enough to sustain the family’s needs, and so I try and contribute my part to support them,” Sudhir said.
“I want both my younger brothers to excel in the sport, they are in school now, and also train in the same academy. So when I reached the fifth semester, I dropped out of my course due to the financial problems,” added Sudhir, a trainee of the renowned Nawang Sports Academy in Imphal, which has produced India’s only international gold medallists in Ganda, Bishan and Johnson.
Sudhir took up Pencak Silat in 2018 after drawing inspiration from seniors at his academy and tasted early success. He announced himself on the national stage with gold medals at the junior nationals in the 45–50kg Tanding category, followed by another top finish in the 50–55kg division in 2021. A silver medal at the 2022 Northeast Games further underlined his promise before an unfortunate accident halted his momentum.
The absence of proper mat flooring at the academy led to a freak incident in which Sudhir’s left foot slipped into a hole, badly injuring his toe. With the injury casting doubt over his future in combat events, he opted to switch to the Artistic and Performance categories. Over the next two years, he trained quietly, rebuilding his strength and confidence.
The comeback was emphatic. Sudhir won gold in the Ganda event at the All India National Championships in Lucknow and followed it up with a creditable fourth-place finish at the Asian Pencak Silat Championship in Vietnam, his first major international outing.
Making his debut at the Khelo India Beach Games in Diu, Sudhir rose to the occasion and played a key role in Manipur’s gold-medal success.
“This was my first ever Khelo India Beach Games and before coming, I promised my parents, I will return with a gold. During the final, there were some nervous moments, as all those conversations with my parents were playing in my head. But I am happy that I won the gold,” he said.
Reflecting on the competition, Sudhir described it as his toughest test so far. “We normally are not used to performing on the sand. So that was a challenge, but it was a new experience and I enjoyed every bit of it. I have always heard about the Khelo India platform, but to experience it first hand was special and returning with a gold medal makes it even more memorable,” he added.