- Sudhir Meetei had to drop out of college due to financial hardships
- Sudhir is a product of the renowned Nawang Sports Academy in Imphal
- The 19-year-old suffered a toe injury that forced him to shift from Combat to Artistic category
Diu, January 8: For Wahengbam Sudhir Meetei of Manipur, a career in Pencak Silat has neither been smooth nor certain. While financial difficulties forced him to focus on earning a living, a freak training injury almost ended his sporting dreams altogether.
Things became so difficult that Sudhir was forced to drop out of college after being unable to pay the fifth-semester fees for his Bachelor of Physical Education course. At the same time, he had to switch from the Tanding (combat) category to the Artistic category to continue pursuing the sport after sustaining a serious toe injury.
However, the 19-year-old overcame these challenges and carved a niche for himself when he, along with Premchandra Yengkhom, bagged Manipur’s first gold medal at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 in Ganda.
“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 in 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, so I try to contribute my part,” said Sudhir.
“I want both my younger brothers to excel in sport. They are in school now and train at the same academy. When I reached the fifth semester, I dropped out due to financial problems,” he added.
Sudhir is a product of the renowned Nawang Sports Academy in Imphal, which has produced India’s only international Ganda gold medallists, Bishan and Johnson. Inspired by his seniors, Sudhir took up Pencak Silat in 2018 and found early success.
He announced himself on the national stage by winning gold at the junior nationals in the 45–50kg Tanding category, followed by another gold in the 50–55kg division in 2021. His rise continued with a silver medal at the 2022 Northeast Games before misfortune struck.
A freak training injury nearly derailed his career. Due to the absence of proper mat flooring at the academy, Sudhir’s left foot got stuck in a hole, badly damaging his toe. The injury forced him to rethink his future and eventually shift from Tanding to the Artistic and Performance category.
The next two years saw Sudhir train quietly with renewed determination. His perseverance paid off when he won Ganda gold at the All India National Championships in Lucknow and later finished fourth at the Asian Pencak Silat Championship in Vietnam, his first major international event.
In Diu, Sudhir delivered a brilliant performance on his Khelo India Beach Games debut, helping Manipur secure their first gold medal of the 2026 edition.
“This was my first Khelo India Beach Games. Before coming, I promised my parents I would return with gold. During the final, I was nervous thinking about them, but I’m happy I could keep my promise,” Sudhir said.
“Performing on sand was challenging as we are not used to it, but it was a new experience and I enjoyed every bit. Experiencing the Khelo India platform and returning with gold makes it even more special,” he added.