Eighteen-year-old Indian wushu athlete Divyanshi made alarming statements about not wanting to live, after being removed from India’s Asian Games 2026 squad at the last minute. The teenager was dropped from the women’s 60kg Sanda category shortly before the Indian contingent was scheduled to leave for Japan.
In a nearly nine-minute video posted on Friday, September 11, Divyanshi alleged that she had faced months of mental harassment. She was replaced by Roshibina Devi, the 2022 Asian Games silver medallist whom Divyanshi had defeated during the selection trials.
The Wushu Federation has maintained that Divyanshi was excluded from the squad after a medical examination detected an ACL injury and found her unfit to compete. The federation has also claimed that the athlete was not training properly in the lead-up to the Asian Games.
However, Divyanshi’s coach Ashok Gautam has disputed the federation’s version, saying the injury was not serious enough to prevent her from competing. According to India Today’s reporting, Gautam claimed that doctors had repeatedly cleared Divyanshi to participate with taping, and described the injury as a routine sporting setback.
Also Read:Virat Kohli Meets Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde in London
According to Gautam, Divyanshi had established herself as the top athlete in the 60kg category by winning all five selection trials held over the past year. He said Roshibina finished fourth in the final trials and had been beaten by Divyanshi in the semi-final. Despite this, Roshibina was subsequently included in the Asian Games squad. Gautam alleged that Roshibina, an Arjuna awardee and an experienced international competitor, had used her influence to secure a place on the team — an allegation that has not been independently established.
भारतीय खिलाड़ी दिव्यांशी चौधरी ने आत्महत्या करने की बात कही है।
— Madan Mohan Soni (@madanmohansoni) September 11, 2026
वुशु खिलाड़ी दिव्यांशी चौधरी का नाम जापान एशियन गेम्स 2026 से आखिरी वक्त में काट दिया गया। जून में टीम में जगह और जर्सी मिलने के बाद 11 सितंबर के अपडेट में जगह नाओरेम रोशिबीना देवी को दे दी गई। टीम से गलत तरीके से… pic.twitter.com/kXXGhv3qzH
Gautam also questioned the fitness criteria used to remove Divyanshi, claiming that Roshibina herself had suffered ACL injuries in both legs and a meniscus tear. He further questioned her recent competitive record, alleging she had not won an international or national medal in the past four years.
Meanwhile, Divyanshi alleged that she was not properly informed about the decision to remove her name and was not given an opportunity to present her medical reports or explain her condition before the final decision was made.
The controversy escalated further after Divyanshi alleged that she had faced sustained mental harassment at the national camp since June-July. She also claimed that Roshibina deliberately injured her shoulder during a training session in Srinagar, forcing her to miss four or five days of practice. Divyanshi said the situation had left her extremely distressed. Her camp is reportedly attempting to approach ministerial authorities to challenge the decision, though with the Indian contingent scheduled to leave for Nagoya in just two days, it remains uncertain whether the squad change can be reversed.
This article touches on a sensitive topic involving suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional or a helpline for support.