Rupa Bayor from Arunachal Pradesh has become the first Indian Taekwondo athlete to achieve World Taekwondo (WT) World Ranking No. 5.
Bayor’s rise in the sport reflects her sustained dedication and performance over the years. She previously made history as the first Indian to reach World Rank 6 and Asia Rank 1. Her world ranking progression has been notable: 123rd in 2021, 42nd in 2022, 12th in 2023, and now 5th globally, while remaining the top-ranked athlete in Asia.
She secured a Gold Medal in the Recognized Individual Poomsae U30 category at the 4th Senior National Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. Bayor was also recently named Best Taekwondo Poomsae Player of the Year at the 2026 India Taekwondo Gala Awards held at Hyatt Regency, Delhi.
Earlier, she earned a place in the India Taekwondo Team by winning the Final National Team Trial at Koramangala Stadium, Bengaluru.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu congratulated Bayor, calling her achievement a historic milestone for Indian Taekwondo.
