Asian Games 2026: PM Modi congratulates squash, sailing, archery medal winners
Synopsis
PM Modi personally congratulated three sets of Indian athletes on their Asian Games 2026 podium finishes — archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru claimed his second medal of the Games with an individual bronze, sailor duo Noble and Francis opened India's sailing account with silver, and the women's squash team earned a hard-fought bronze after a narrow semifinal defeat to Hong Kong.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi congratulated India's medal-winning athletes at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on 1 October 2026 .
Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru won the Men's Compound Individual archery bronze, defeating Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang 149-144 — his second medal of the Games.
India's archery tally stands at four medals at these Games.
Sailors Prince Kurisinkal Noble and Manu Francis won silver in the Men's Skiff, finishing behind China with a net score of 23 points .
The women's squash team claimed bronze after losing 2-1 to Hong Kong in the semifinal at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 October 2026 congratulated three sets of Indian athletes — the women's squash team, sailor duo Prince Noble and Manu Francis, and compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru — on their podium finishes at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The Indian women's squash team and Ganesh claimed bronze, while Noble and Francis secured silver in the Men's Skiff sailing event.
PM Modi's Tributes on X
Modi took to X to personally acknowledge each achievement. 'Proud of the Indian Women's Squash Team for winning the Bronze Medal at the Asian Games 2026. Congrats to them for a spirited effort. They played with great resolve and secured a richly deserved place on the podium. This success will also motivate youngsters towards squash, which is becoming popular in India,' he wrote.
On the sailing silver, Modi posted: 'A special and spectacular Silver! Congrats to Prince Noble and Manu Francis on winning the Silver Medal in the Men's Skiff event at the Asian Games 2026. They bettered their previous performances and did well by reaching the podium this time. It has truly been a remarkable leap powered by skill and determination. Best wishes for their endeavours ahead.'
Acknowledging the archer, the Prime Minister stated: 'Congratulations to Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru on his hard-fought victory in the Men's Compound Individual Bronze Medal Match at the Asian Games. With precision under pressure, remarkable composure and an unyielding spirit, Ganesh has brought immense glory. Best wishes to him for future endeavours.'
Women's Squash Team: Bronze After Tight Semifinal Loss
India's women's squash team secured bronze after falling 2-1 to Hong Kong in the semifinal at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena. Anahat Singh opened the tie against Chan Sin Yuk in a marathon contest but lost 3-2. Tanvi Khanna levelled matters at 1-1 with a comeback win over world No. 40 Lee Ka Yi. Joshna Chinappa, however, was unable to complete the turnaround, going down 3-0 to Ho Tze Lok in the deciding rubber.
Sailing Silver: Noble and Francis Open India's Account on Water
The pairing of Manu Francis and Prince Kurisinkal Noble opened India's sailing medal account at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, finishing behind China across nine races in the men's skiff event. Their strongest result came in Race 3, which they won outright. They also posted second-place finishes in Races 1, 5, and 9, accumulating 29 points in total. After discarding their sixth-place finish in Race 8, their net score stood at 23.
Archery Bronze: Ganesh's Second Medal of the Games
Compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru defeated Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang 149-144 in the Men's Individual Bronze Medal Match, raising India's archery tally to four medals at these Games. Ganesh's performance was defined by a perfect finish — he registered 14 tens, closing with three consecutive 10s to reach his total of 149 and pull decisively clear. Notably, this is his second medal at Aichi-Nagoya, having won gold in the men's team event on Wednesday.
India's Medal Momentum Builds
The triple podium recognition from the Prime Minister reflects India's growing depth across multiple disciplines at Asian Games level. Squash, sailing, and archery are among the sports that have benefited from sustained grassroots and elite-level investment. With the Games still ongoing, India's medal count is expected to grow further before the closing ceremony.
Point of View
Sport-specific posts on X signal a deliberate strategy of associating government support with athletic achievement — particularly in non-cricket disciplines. The breadth of India's podium finishes across archery, squash, and sailing reflects a diversification of competitive depth that has been quietly building over successive Asian Games cycles. Notably, compound archery and sailing have rarely attracted prime ministerial attention in previous cycles; their inclusion here suggests the government is consciously broadening the sporting narrative beyond cricket and track athletics. Whether this translates into sustained funding and infrastructure support for these sports — or remains at the level of social media goodwill — is the question India's sports administrators will need to answer before the next Games.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did PM Modi congratulate at the 2026 Asian Games?
PM Modi congratulated compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru on his individual bronze, the Indian women's squash team on their bronze, and sailors Prince Noble and Manu Francis on their silver in the Men's Skiff event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
How did Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru win his bronze medal?
Ganesh defeated Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang 149-144 in the Men's Compound Individual Bronze Medal Match. He finished with 14 tens, including three consecutive 10s, and this was his second medal at these Games after winning team gold on Wednesday.
How did the Indian women's squash team finish at the 2026 Asian Games?
The team won a bronze medal after losing 2-1 to Hong Kong in the semifinal at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena. Tanvi Khanna won her singles match to level the tie, but Joshna Chinappa lost the decider 3-0.
How did Prince Noble and Manu Francis win sailing silver at Asian Games 2026?
The pair competed across nine races in the Men's Skiff event, winning Race 3 and finishing second in Races 1, 5, and 9. Their net score of 23 points placed them second overall behind China, opening India's sailing medal account at these Games.
What is India's archery medal tally at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?
India has won four medals in archery at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru contributed two of them — gold in the men's team event and bronze in the individual competition.
