Hangzhou: For India's Naorem Roshibina Devi, the silver medal in women's 60kg sanda event of wushu at the Hagzhou Asian Games was a victory for the victims of Manipur violence that has been raging in her native state since May this year.
Hailing from the Meitei community in Kwashiphai village in Bishnupur district adjoining Churachandpur, which is dominated by the rival Kuki ethnic community, Roshibina fought a valiant fight against local heavyweight Wu Xiaowei before going down 0-2 in two rounds in the final.
The conflict between the two communities in Manipur has killed scores of people and injured so many more.
"Manipur is burning. Fighting is going on in Manipur. I can't go to my village. I want to dedicate this medal to those who are protecting us and suffering there," said Roshibina after clinching the silver.
The Manipuri athlete was crying inconsolably as she added: "I don't know what will happen, the fighting has been continuing. When will it stop and return to normal life of earlier times."
She spoke to her parents on Wednesday and they asked her to focus on the final without getting distracted by the violence.
"They told me to focus on the match and not on other things. My family is fine. I don't speak to them regularly as my coaches say the violence at home will distract me.
"We prepared very well and we could do well here and win a silver," she added.
