Kumkum Mohod and Sujeet Kalkal have made headlines at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by being honored as the best female and male athletes of the event. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) introduced these awards to acknowledge exceptional performances and to celebrate the legacies of two esteemed figures in Indian sports, Jaspal Rana and Raja Randhir Singh, who both passed away earlier this year.
Seventeen-year-old Mohod shined brightly in her first appearance at the Asian Games, earning the Jaspal Rana Award. Her remarkable journey included winning three medals, with gold in both the women’s recurve team and individual competitions. She played a crucial role in breaking South Korea’s long-standing dominance in women’s recurve archery, joining forces with Ankita Bhakat and Kirti to end their seven-year winning streak in team events. This achievement marked a historic moment as South Korea missed out on the women’s recurve title for the first time, while India also secured a spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
PT Usha, the president of the IOA, praised Mohod for her calmness under pressure, highlighting her as a perfect choice for the inaugural award named after Rana, who made waves as a young star at the 1994 Asian Games. Usha expressed her confidence that Mohod’s performance signals a bright future for Indian archery, especially with hopes pinned on the upcoming Olympics.
On the other hand, Kalkal, 23, was honored with the Raja Randhir Singh Award after a thrilling wrestling match. He faced the reigning Olympic champion, Kotaro Kiyooka from Japan, in the semi-finals and came back from a 2-9 deficit against Abdulmazhid Kudiyev in the finals. Kalkal’s determination shone through as he managed to turn the match around, winning 10-9 and securing the gold medal.
Usha highlighted Kalkal’s tenacity, noting that his spirit and refusal to accept second place are as significant as his victory itself. She emphasized that wrestling is deeply rooted in Indian culture and anticipated that Kalkal’s achievement will be cherished for years to come. Usha expressed hope for him to aim for India’s first Olympic gold medal in wrestling in the near future.
The IOA is set to honor both Mohod and Kalkal in an upcoming ceremony. India finished the Asian Games in fourth place overall, bringing home a total of 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze medals.
