The journey of Rupa Bayor from the hinterlands of Arunachal Pradesh to the helm of Taekwondo resonates the saga of courage, confidence, unprecedented strength and resilience despite all odds. She has marked an incredible feat by etching a position among the top 5 in the World Taekwondo rankings. She is the first-ever Indian woman to achieve this remarkable milestone, thus has put a spotlight on India in the world of athletics. By being at the world No. 5 position in the taekwondo paradigm, Rupa Bayor has also emerged as a testament to the immense potential of the Indian youth.
The journey of Rupa Bayor is inspiring. In 2021, she was at the 123rd position in the World Taekwondo ranking. With consistent effort and resilience by April 2026, she climbed to world No. 5 position. In the year 2023 she reached rank 12 and earlier this year she climbed to rank 6. This reflects Rupa Bayor’s consistent hard work, determination and the fire to succeed. She is also currently serving at the No. 1 position for Asia in the Poomsae category, a form in Taekwondo.
Rupa Bayor’s achievement is also defined as a transformative moment for India in the world of martial arts. Henceforth, in the 2026, India Taekwondo Gala Awards, Rupa Bayor was awarded as the “Best Taekwondo Poomsae Player of the Year”. Reiterating the incredible achievement of Rupa Bayor, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu praised the athlete. “Becoming the first Indian to reach World Taekwondo World Ranking No. 5 is not just a personal milestone, but a proud moment for the entire nation. Your dedication, discipline, and relentless hard work have set a new benchmark for Indian Taekwondo”, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh wrote on the X social media platform.
Rupa Bayor hails from a remote village in the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. Her mother was a single parent who worked as a farmer to lead the life. Rupa Bayor began her journey in martial arts through Karate and later on switched to Taekwondo. Despite limited opportunities and training facilities at her hometown, Rupa Bayor was persistent in her hard work and was determined to learn. Gradually, she began participating in international athletic events. She secured a bronze at the 8th Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championship and a gold at the World Taekwondo President Cup Europe.
