Meet Rupa Bayor, India’s First Taekwondo Athlete to Reach World Rank 6, Asia No 1

Rupa Bayor has made history by becoming the first Indian Taekwondo athlete to reach World Rank 6 and Asia Rank 1 in Recognised Poomsae. This is a major achievement for Indian taekwondo and has been widely praised across the sports community.

Bayor’s rise has been impressive. She started in the world rankings at No. 123 in 2021 and steadily moved up over the years. Her hard work, skill, and consistency have now placed her among the top athletes in the world and made her the highest-ranked player in Asia, a first for India.

Her success has also brought pride to her home state of Arunachal Pradesh. Leaders including Chief Minister Pema Khandu congratulated her for setting a new benchmark for Indian athletes. Her achievement is inspiring young athletes across the country.

Heartiest congratulations to Ms. Rupa Bayor on this historic feat!

Becoming World Rank 6 and Asia Rank 1,
a first for Indian Taekwondo, is a moment of immense pride for India, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Northeast. Your journey from Upper Subansiri (Daporijo) to the global stage… pic.twitter.com/o2tGydPfuG

— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) January 3, 2026

How Rupa Bayor Turned Adversity Into Athleticism

Rupa Bayor grew up in Sippi, a village in the Daporijo circle of the Upper Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh. She lost her father when she was a toddler and grew up helping her mother in the paddy field with her four siblings. Her mother faced many struggles as she was married off young and widowed so early.

Growing up with many adversities influenced Bayor in a significant way, however, she channelled the pains into positivity. From an early age, Bayor was known for her fearless attitude and energetic spirit. Her foray into taekwondo began as a competitive young girl with a striking readiness to take on challenges. 

Bayor's maternal uncle, who is a karate master, recognised her talent and began training her in martial arts in 2015. Bayor started professional training in 2021 at the Indo-Korean Taekwondo Academy in Mumbai with coach Abhishek Dubey. In just months, she began earning laurels and won her first international medal in Croatia in 2022. She qualified for the 2022 Asian Games in China but could not go due to a Visa setback.

In 2024, she won a bronze at the 8th Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Vietnam and a silver at the Australian Open. Her consistent performances led to her historic rise to World Rank 6 and Asia Rank 1, making her a trailblazer for Indian taekwondo.