Asian Games Heroes Kumkum Mohod, Sujeet Kalkal Get New Jaspal Rana, Raja Randhir Singh Honours

Seventeen-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod and wrestler Sujeet Kalkal have become the first recipients of the Indian Olympic Association’s newly instituted Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award respectively, following their standout performances at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The awards have been created to recognise the best female and male Indian sportspersons at the Games while honouring the legacy of two stalwarts of Indian sport who died earlier this year.

Mohod, competing at her first Asian Games, emerged as one of India’s biggest stars after winning three medals, including two golds, in recurve archery. Her performances also helped India end South Korea’s long-standing dominance in the women’s event.

IOA president PT Usha said Mohod was a fitting first recipient of an award named after Jaspal Rana, who himself emerged as a teenage prodigy at the 1994 Asian Games.

“Kumkum’s composure under pressure and ability to find her best form when her back was to the wall augur extremely well for Indian archery,” Usha said.

Mohod, alongside Ankita Bhakat and Kirti, won the women’s recurve team gold, ending South Korea’s streak of seven consecutive Asian Games titles dating back to 1998. She then captured individual gold, helping India achieve a landmark first as South Korea’s women failed to win a recurve gold at the Asian Games.

Her individual triumph also secured a quota place for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Kalkal, 23, earned the Raja Randhir Singh Award after winning gold in the men’s 65kg freestyle wrestling category. His title came after a dramatic campaign in which he defeated reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan in the semifinal.

The Indian then produced a stunning comeback in the final against Abdulmazhid Kudiyev. Trailing 2-9 with time running out, Kalkal fought back to snatch a remarkable 10-9 victory.

Usha praised his never-say-die attitude and said she hoped Kalkal could deliver India’s first Olympic wrestling gold in two years.

The IOA will felicitate both athletes at a ceremony in the coming days.

India finished fourth in the Asian Games medal standings with 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals.