Two 22-year-olds, Aparna Dahiya and Shivani, have made India proud by clinching gold medals at the 11th Sanda World Cup in Macao, China. Aparna won in the 58kg category, while Shivani claimed the top spot in the 75kg event.
Aparna, from Haryana, started taking Wushu as a self-defence exercise at school when she was 11. She eventually pursued it as a career choice, landing a job as an Income Tax Officer in Mumbai through the sports quota. Despite Wushu's limited following in India, she persisted with the sport, loving the combination of kicking and punching.
Shivani, from Uttar Pradesh, took up Wushu at school because they only had trainers for Wushu. Her father initially faced opposition from society and family members, but once she started winning medals, things changed. With a job in BSF through the sports quota, she has set her sights on the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.
Both Aparna and Shivani have set their sights on the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, where India hopes to break its wait for a maiden gold in Wushu.
