Childhood Friends Manu Francis And Noble Kurisinkal Win Sailing Silver At Asian Games
· Sports · India Today, NDTV Sports, Times of India
Manu Francis and Prince Noble Kurisinkal secured a silver medal in the men's skiff event at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, marking India's first medal in sailing at the Asian Games. The duo finished the nine-race competition with 23 points after consistent performance throughout the event. Their journey began on Cherai beach in Kochi with a makeshift boat during their Class 7 years, before training at the National Sailing School in Bhopal. They later continued development under retired Colonel Navneet Mittal and Suresh Pillai at the Muziris Yachting Club in Kerala. Since 2020, they have been coached by Sandeep Jain and trained intensively at the Army Yachting Node in Mumbai for international competitions. This Asian Games debut followed bronze medals at the Asian Sailing Championships in Abu Dhabi (2022) and Thailand (2023), establishing them as a consistent pair in the skiff category.
Why it matters
This achievement opens India's account in sailing at the Asian Games and highlights the potential of grassroots sporting initiatives from Kerala. It may inspire greater investment in sailing infrastructure and support for athletes from non-traditional sporting backgrounds across India.
Read the original report — India Today
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