Asian Games 2026: Wushu athlete threatens self harm after being dropped from Indian team

In a nearly nine-minute video posted online on Friday, the 18-year-old from Kota said she had endured months of mental harassment and expressed that she no longer saw a reason to keep living.

"I am really fed up. I have been harassed so much mentally from June, July to now, it's September, I am being harassed, because she (Roshibina) wanted to go (to the Asian Games)," she said.

Choudhary, who had received the Indian kit and even attended the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) send-off ceremony, was dropped from the contingent citing injury concerns. Two-time Asian Games medallist Naorem Roshibina Devi was named as her replacement.

The youngster acknowledged that she was injured but claimed that she was cleared by a doctor to compete.

Choudhary claimed that her axing was a conspiracy to accommodate Roshibina in the Indian contingent.

Choudhary had beaten Roshibina in the selection trials. 

"Why is she [Roshibina] not letting anyone else go? I have defeated her (in the selection trial). I have the right to go to Asian Games," said a sobbing Divyanshi, who hails from Kota but is currently training at the NIS Patiala.

The video, which spread rapidly across social media, triggered widespread concern for her wellbeing and reignited questions about how national federations handle athlete grievances.

Choudhary further alleged that Roshibina, an Arjuna awardee, had used her standing to influence the final call, and questioned the fitness rationale given for the swap.

The Wushu Association of India, in a press statement issued by Secretary Vijay Saraf, refuted Choudhary's claims.

According to the federation, she won the selection trials held in Srinagar from June 5 to 8 and was cleared for the Games through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports sanction. She reported to the preparatory camp at NIS Patiala on August 10, but by mid-August was complaining of recurring hamstring pain and training only intermittently.

The statement says that after she stopped training altogether on August 21, a team physio found swelling in her knee.

An MRI conducted on August 23 at Manipal Hospital, followed by review from SAI's sports medicine department and an orthopaedic consultation, revealed a partial high-grade ACL tear with large effusion.

"The MRI report was shown to HPD of Sports Medicine of SAI on 24th August and she referred the athlete to an Orthopaedic doctor at Manipal Hospital for further consultation. On further clinical examination and review of the MRI by the Orthopaedic Doctor and a medical officer, she was found to have a partial high-grade ACL tear with large effusion," the statement read.

Doctors advised her to avoid competitive training until recovery and recommended surgery. 

The federation maintained it to be the reason why they added standby athlete Roshibina to the squad just day's before the team's departure to Aichi-Nagoya.

"Keeping the athlete’s health, safety and long-term sporting career paramount, the WAI, based on the medical advice and available medical reports, informed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), and Sports Authority of India (SAI) through email that the athlete had sustained an injury and had been medically advised to refrain from competitive activity and full training session till her recovery," the statement added.