Asian Games 2026: Childhood Friends Manu Francis, Noble Kurisinkal Win Sailing Silver
Manu Francis and Prince Noble Kurisinkal won India’s first sailing medal at the Asian Games, securing silver in the men’s skiff after a dramatic final race comeback.
Manu Francis and Prince Noble Kurisinkal scripted a memorable chapter for Indian sailing by winning silver in the men’s skiff at the Asian Games, securing India’s first medal in the sport at the Games. The childhood friends, who began sailing together in Kerala, fought back strongly in the final race to finish second overall.
Their journey began at Cherai beach in Kochi when they were in Class 7. Coach P Madhu spotted their potential and helped them train at the National Sailing School in Bhopal. After returning to Kerala, they continued under coaches including retired Colonel Navneet Mittal and Suresh Pillai.
Both later joined the Indian Army after Class 12 while continuing their sailing careers. Since 2020, they have trained under Sandeep Jain at the Army Yachting Node in Mumbai.
The duo finished the nine-race competition with 23 points, behind China’s Wen Zaiding and Liu Tian, who won gold with 16 points. Francis and Noble won Race 3 and finished second in Races 1, 5 and 9.
Their medal hopes appeared to slip after they finished last in Race 8, but the pair responded in the final race with a second-place finish. That comeback lifted them into the silver-medal position, turning years of friendship and training into an Asian Games podium finish.
