Manu Francis, Prince Noble script sailing silver after dramatic final-race surge

Gamagori, Oct 1 (UNI) Indian sailors Manu Francis and Prince Kurisinkal Noble produced a stirring late surge to clinch the silver medal in the men's skiff event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games here on Thursday, giving India their first sailing medal of the Games.

The Indian pair finished second overall with 23 net points after a crucial second-place finish in the final race lifted them from fourth position going into the decider. It was a medal won in the final reckoning rather than one secured comfortably. With the podium still within reach before the last race, Francis and Noble held their nerve under pressure and delivered when it mattered most, moving up two places to finish runners-up.

The silver also capped a consistent campaign for the Indians across the skiff competition. They produced a race victory along the way and remained in contention for the podium despite the fluctuations inherent in fleet racing. The final race proved decisive. Starting fourth overall, Francis and Noble had little margin for error but crossed the finish line second, collecting enough points to move ahead of their rivals and secure the silver.

China took the gold, while Hong Kong China finished third. For India, the result marked a breakthrough in sailing at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Francis and Noble became the country's first sailing medallists of the 2026 Asian Games, adding another medal to an increasingly diverse Indian campaign. The duo had also shown strong form on the international circuit, entering the Games with confidence after a podium finish at the Asian Sailing Championships earlier this year.

The men's skiff event was held at the Kaiyoh Yacht Harbor in Gamagori, with sailors having to negotiate changing conditions and the demands of a multi-race format. Unlike a single-race event, the skiff competition rewards consistency across the fleet, with sailors accumulating points according to their finishing positions. Francis and Noble's ability to remain within striking distance of the leaders ultimately paid off.

Their silver came on a productive day for India, with Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru winning bronze in men's compound archery and the women's squash team also securing bronze. The sailing medal further underlined India's expanding medal base at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. For Francis and Noble, the defining moment came in the final race - fourth before the decider, second at the finish and silver on the podium.

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