NEW DELHI: Teenage archer Kumkum Mohod and wrestler Sujeet Kalkal have been recognised as the standout performers of India’s campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha naming them the inaugural recipients of the Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award respectively.The two awards have been instituted by the IOA to honour the best female and male sportspersons of the Games and commemorate the legacy of two stalwarts of Indian sport.Seventeen-year-old Mohod, making her Asian Games debut, won three medals, including two golds, while 23-year-old Kalkal produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the Games to claim gold in the men’s 65kg freestyle wrestling category.India finished fourth in the medal standings with 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals.
Mohod ends South Korea’s long reign
Mohod was at the heart of one of the biggest breakthroughs for Indian archery in Aichi-Nagoya.Along with Ankita Bhakat and Kirti, she won the women’s recurve team gold, ending South Korea’s remarkable run of seven consecutive Asian Games titles in the event dating back to the 1998 Bangkok Games.Mohod then followed it with gold in the individual recurve event, ensuring that South Korea’s women failed to win a recurve gold at the Asian Games for the first time in the discipline’s history. Her individual triumph also secured a quota place for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India’s Kumkum Anil Mohod (Image: REUTERS)
Usha praised Mohod’s ability to deliver under pressure and drew a parallel with the late Jaspal Rana, after whom the award has been named.“It is fitting that Kumkum is the first recipient of the Jaspal Rana Award, as Jaspal too burst onto the scene as a prodigy at the 1994 Asian Games. Her composure under pressure and her ability to find her best form when her back was to the wall augur extremely well for Indian Archery,” Usha said.The IOA president believes Mohod’s breakthrough could finally help Indian archery cross a long-standing barrier at the Olympics.“India’s archers have been knocking on the door for more than a decade now, and I firmly believe that this performance by Kumkum and her recurve teammates has shattered the glass ceiling for Indian archery. India came close to winning a maiden Olympic medal in the sport at the Paris Olympics, and I am convinced that the final frontier will be breached at the Los Angeles Olympics,” Usha added.
Kalkal turns a lost final into gold
Kalkal, meanwhile, earned the Raja Randhir Singh Award after a gold-medal run that showcased his resilience and fighting spirit.The 23-year-old defeated reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan in the semifinal before producing a stunning comeback against Abdulmazhid Kudiyev in the final.Kalkal trailed 2-9 with time running out but refused to give up, fighting back to win 10-9 in a dramatic finish. His triumph also continued India’s strong tradition in the 65kg category, following Yogeshwar Dutt and Bajrang Punia, who won Asian Games gold in the same weight class in 2014 and 2018 respectively.
Sujeet Kalkal with coach after winning gold medal. (PTI Photo)
Usha said it was Kalkal’s refusal to accept defeat that made his performance particularly special.“Wrestling is India’s sport, and Sujeet’s performance will be spoken of for years to come. The gold medal will be celebrated, but his never-say-die attitude and refusal to accept silver have earned him a special place in the hearts of all Indians,” she said.“Winning gold medals in elite competition is not easy, but equally important is the effort that goes in when your back is against the wall. I wish Sujeet all success in the years ahead and will be rooting for him to deliver India’s first-ever wrestling gold medal at the Olympic Games in two years’ time.”The IOA will felicitate Mohod and Kalkal at a ceremony in the coming days.Their selection provides a fitting individual recognition to two athletes whose performances stood out in India’s 85-medal campaign.
