Nagoya, October 6: India’s Asian Games campaign in Aichi-Nagoya has received another special recognition, with archer Kumkum Mohod and wrestler Sujeet Kalkal being named the standout performers of the Indian contingent.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has honoured the two athletes with the inaugural Jaspal Rana Trophy for Best Female Athlete and Raja Randhir Singh Trophy for Best Male Athlete, respectively.
Kumkum shines with historic archery gold
At just 17 years of age, Kumkum emerged as one of India’s brightest stars in Nagoya.
The young archer was part of India’s historic women’s recurve team that won the country’s first-ever Asian Games gold in the event. Kumkum joined hands with Ankita Bhagat and Kirti Sharma to defeat South Korea and create history.
She added another medal to her tally by winning silver in the mixed team event, underlining her consistency on the Asian Games stage.
Kumkum’s performances have marked her out as one of the exciting young talents in Indian archery.
Sujeet seals wrestling gold in dramatic fashion.
Sujeet Kalkal, meanwhile, was rewarded for a memorable campaign in the 65kg freestyle wrestling category.
The Indian wrestler clinched the gold medal after producing a stunning 10-9 comeback victory in the final, holding his nerve in a closely fought contest.
His dramatic finish helped him emerge as India’s best male athlete of the Games and added another major achievement to his growing international career.
New trophies honour Indian sporting legends
The two awards were introduced by the Indian Olympic Association this year, in memory of two respected figures of Indian sport.
The recognition for Kumkum and Sujeet adds another layer to India’s successful Asian Games campaign, with both athletes combining medal-winning performances with memorable individual achievements.
Kumkum’s historic archery gold and Sujeet’s thrilling wrestling comeback have ensured that their names will remain among the standout stories of India’s Aichi-Nagoya 2026 campaign.
