By Sundeep Misra
OCA Media
Nagoya, Japan, September 23, 2026: It was an afternoon of youthful dominance and enduring veteran excellence at the 2026 Asian Games wushu competition, echoing across the women’s Jianshu & Qiangshu final.
At the summit stood China’s Yang Yao, who added a brilliant Asian Games gold to a resume already featuring her status as a world champion at the 16th World Wushu Championships and a 3rd Wushu Taolu World Cup championship.
Her immaculate routine score of 19.546 highlighted the technical precision and athleticism that routinely separate champions from contenders on the global stage.
“It is an honour to win the Asian Games gold and that too against some very good competitors,” said Yang.
Hot on her heels was Japan’s rising star, Nanoha Kida, who finished closely with 19.446 to capture the silver in front of home fans.
Kida’s trajectory has been amazing: she triumphed at the 2024 Taolu World Cup right at home in Yokohama, built valuable championship experience following an 8th-place finish at the 2022 Asian Games, and continued her streak of excellence by securing a silver medal at the 2025 World Wushu competitions. Her ability to consistently peak against world-class competition signals a bright and dominant future for Japanese wushu.
Rounding out the podium with a brilliant 19.413 was Vietnam’s veteran, Duong Thuy Vi. A true pillar of international wushu, Thuy Vi's storied career spans over a decade, featuring world championship titles captured way back in 2013 and 2017.
Furthermore, she famously claimed her prior Asian Games gold medal in 2014, an incredible 12 years before this fierce 2026 showdown.
“I am quite amazed at myself at times that I still have the hunger to compete and stay in the fight for medals. I am extremely proud of the bronze medal,” said Thuy Vi. Her enduring presence among the sport’s elite youth demonstrates longevity, mental fortitude and a deep technical understanding of the sport.