Wahengbam Sudhir Meetei from Manipur faced challenges in his Pencak Silat journey due to financial struggles and an injury during training. Despite having to quit college because of financial issues, he switched categories and continued playing the sport. Sudhir, along with Premchandra Yengkhom, secured Manipur’s first gold medal at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 in Ganda.
Sudhir, the eldest of three brothers in a family of five, supports his family by working as a welder and assisting his father’s small livestock business. Inspired by seniors at the Nawang Sports Academy, Sudhir excelled in Pencak Silat, winning national titles and overcoming a career-threatening injury.
After a severe training mishap, Sudhir shifted to the Artistic category and trained diligently to make a comeback. His efforts paid off with a gold medal at the All India National Championships and a notable performance at the Asian Pencak Silat Championship. Sudhir’s success continued at the Khelo India Beach Games, where he clinched Manipur’s first gold medal.
