Daijiworld Media Network – Macau

Macau, May 15: Indian wushu player Aparna Dahiya clinched a gold medal in the women’s 52kg category at the 11th Sanda World Cup in Macau on Thursday, marking India’s first gold medal at the tournament.

Aparna defeated reigning world champion Thi Phuong Nga Ngo of Vietnam in straight sets in the final to secure the top podium finish.

The victory carried added significance as Aparna had earlier lost to the same opponent in the final of the World Wushu Championships held in Brazil in September 2025.

The ongoing Sanda World Cup began on May 12 and features top martial artists from across the world competing in various weight categories.

Wushu, the Chinese martial art sport, is broadly divided into two disciplines — Taolu and Sanda.

Taolu involves choreographed routines that combine martial arts techniques with gymnastic movements, where athletes are judged on precision, balance, jumps, kicks, punches and overall performance.

Sanda, meanwhile, is a modern combat sport derived from traditional wushu techniques and involves punching, kicking, wrestling, throws and defensive combat skills.

Aparna’s gold medal has been hailed as a major achievement for Indian wushu on the international stage.