Asian Games 2026: Prince Noble, Manu Francis Win Silver as India Claims First Sailing Medal

Nagoya, Oct 1: India's Prince Noble and Manu Francis clinched the silver medal in the men's skiff sailing event at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, securing the country's first sailing medal of the Aichi-Nagoya edition.

Making their Asian Games debut, the Indian pair produced a consistent performance throughout the competition at the Kaiyoh Yacht Harbor. They finished second in the ninth and final race to confirm their place on the podium.

Prince and Manu recorded three second-place finishes and one race victory during the event. They accumulated 23 net points, finishing one point behind Hong Kong, China. The result earned them the silver medal, while China's Wen Zaiding and Liu Tian claimed gold with 16 net points after winning four races.

The medal marks a significant achievement for the Indian duo, who have developed their sailing careers from humble beginnings. Prince Noble and Manu Francis, childhood friends from Kerala, took up sailing during their school years. Their early experiences eventually led them to train at the National Sailing School in Bhopal, where they continued to develop their skills.

Both sailors later joined the Indian Army, continuing their training and competing at the national and international levels. Their progress has included a bronze-medal finish at the Asian Sailing Championships in Abu Dhabi.

Their silver medal in Aichi-Nagoya adds another milestone to their growing careers and gives India an early success in the sailing competition at the 2026 Asian Games.

The result also highlights the growing presence of Indian sailors on the international stage. For Prince and Manu, their debut at the continental multi-sport event ended with a podium finish, following a disciplined performance across all nine races.

China topped the men's skiff standings, while India finished second, completing the medal positions alongside the leading Asian sailing nations.