Asian Games 2026: President Murmu hails sailing silver, archery bronze
Synopsis
India's Asian Games 2026 campaign crossed a historic milestone as sailors Manu Francis and Prince Kurisinkal Noble won the men's skiff silver — the country's 24th sailing medal at the Games — while compound archer Ganesh Thirumuru backed up a team gold with an individual bronze, prompting personal congratulations from President Droupadi Murmu on X.
Key Takeaways
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Indian athletes on 1 October 2026 via posts on X for their performances at the Asian Games 2026 .
Manu Francis and Prince Kurisinkal Noble won silver in the men's skiff at Gamagori City with a net score of 23 points , finishing four points behind gold-winning China.
The skiff silver is India's first in the men's event and the country's 24th sailing medal at the Asian Games overall.
Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru won compound archery individual bronze, beating Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang 149-144 at Okazaki .
Ganesh's bronze came a day after he helped India win gold in the men's compound team event; India claimed three golds and one bronze in compound archery at these Games.
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday, 1 October congratulated Indian sailors Manu Francis and Prince Kurisinkal Noble for claiming the silver medal in the men's skiff event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, and also praised compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru for his bronze in the men's individual archery competition. The twin felicitations marked a proud day for Indian sport at the ongoing Games.
India's Historic Sailing Silver at Gamagori
Manu Francis and Prince Kurisinkal Noble secured what is being described as India's first Asian Games silver in the men's skiff event — and the country's 24th sailing medal overall at the Asian Games. The pair completed the regatta in Gamagori City with a net score of 23 points across nine races, finishing four points behind gold medallists Wen Zaiding and Liu Tian of China.
The Indian duo produced a disciplined campaign, winning Race 3 outright and finishing second in Races 1, 5 and 9. A sixth-place result in Race 8 was discarded under the low-point scoring system, underlining the consistency that earned them the podium finish. This is only the second time India has won a medal in the men's skiff event at the continental showpiece.
What President Murmu Said
'Hearty congratulations to Manu Francis and Prince Kurisinkal Noble on winning the Silver Medal in the Men's Skiff event at the Asian Games 2026,' President Murmu wrote on X. 'Your outstanding performance has brought great distinction to Indian sailing. Your skill, teamwork and determination have earned you this well-deserved achievement. My best wishes for many more accomplishments,' she added.
Ganesh Thirumuru Adds Individual Bronze to Team Gold
Compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru further enriched India's medal haul by clinching the bronze in the men's compound individual event at Okazaki, defeating Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang by 149-144. The decisive moment came in the final end, where Ganesh delivered three successive 10s to seal the win convincingly.
This was Ganesh's second medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, coming a day after he was part of the Indian squad that won gold in the men's compound team archery event on Wednesday. India rounded off the compound archery competition with three gold medals in team events and one bronze in individual competition — a dominant showing in the discipline.
President Murmu acknowledged the double feat, posting on X: 'After contributing to India's Gold in the Compound Men's Team event, you have now added an individual medal to your tally, further adding to India's achievements in Aichi-Nagoya. My best wishes for many more successes ahead.'
India's Broader Asian Games Campaign
The medals in sailing and archery reflect India's expanding depth across non-traditional disciplines at the continental level. Notably, the 24th sailing medal at the Asian Games signals a steady, if gradual, rise in India's nautical ambitions. With the Games still in progress, the Indian contingent will be targeting further podium finishes across athletics, combat sports, and racquet events in the days ahead.
Point of View
Yet both have quietly built a medals pipeline at the Asian Games. The skiff pair's 24th sailing medal and Ganesh Thirumuru's double-medal haul in a single edition raise the question of whether India's sports investment is finally reaching its periphery, or whether these athletes are succeeding despite, rather than because of, institutional support. The answer matters for how the next generation of non-traditional athletes is funded.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did India win in the men's skiff at Asian Games 2026?
India won the silver medal in the men's skiff sailing event at the Asian Games 2026, with the pair of Manu Francis and Prince Kurisinkal Noble finishing with a net score of 23 points at Gamagori City. China's Wen Zaiding and Liu Tian took gold, finishing four points ahead.
Why is India's skiff silver historically significant?
The silver is India's first Asian Games silver in the men's skiff event and the country's 24th sailing medal at the Asian Games overall. It marks only the second time India has reached the podium in this specific event at the continental Games.
How did Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru win his archery bronze?
Ganesh defeated Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang 149-144 in the men's compound individual event at Okazaki, sealing the result with three successive 10s in the final end. The bronze was his second medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, after he helped India win gold in the men's compound team event the previous day.
How many medals did India win in compound archery at Asian Games 2026?
India won four medals in compound archery at the Aichi-Nagoya Games — three golds in team events and one bronze in the men's individual competition. Ganesh Thirumuru featured in both the team gold and the individual bronze.
What did President Murmu say about the Indian athletes?
President Droupadi Murmu posted congratulatory messages on X for both sets of athletes. She called the sailors' effort 'outstanding' and credited their 'skill, teamwork and determination,' while noting that Ganesh Thirumuru had 'added an individual medal' to his tally after already contributing to the compound men's team gold.
