Aparna, an Indian wushu athlete, made history by winning a gold medal in the women's 52kg category at the 11th Sanda World Cup held in Macau. In the final match, she triumphed over Thi Phuong Nga Ngo, the reigning world champion from Vietnam, in straight sets. This victory is particularly significant as it marks India's first gold medal in this prestigious event, which commenced on May 12. Aparna's win is especially gratifying as she had previously faced Ngo in the final of the World Wushu Championships in Brazil in September 2025, where she was defeated. Competitive wushu includes two main branches: Taolu, which focuses on performance and scoring based on movements, and Sanda, a modern combat sport emphasizing striking and grappling techniques.