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India finished fourth in the medal table with 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals. Ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, it was announced that the best male and female athletes at the multi-sport event would be awarded. Now that the event has ended, the names have been announced to receive the inaugural Jaspal Rana and Raja Randhir Singh awards. The Indian Olympic Association has named 17-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod and 23-year-old wrestler Sujeet Kalkal the inaugural recipients of its newly instituted awards for outstanding performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
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Asian Games 2026: India's best male & female athletes announced; receive inaugural Jaspal Rana, Raja Randhir Singh IOA awards
Together, the two awards mark a deliberate effort by the IOA to recognise excellence at the Asian Games while preserving the memory of two significant figures in Indian sport. India’s campaign in Aichi-Nagoya reflected growing depth across several disciplines. Archery’s breakthrough against traditional powerhouse South Korea and wrestling’s continued ability to produce high-stakes performances under pressure were among the standout stories.
Mohod’s dual golds and the Olympic quota they delivered give Indian archery a platform for the next Olympic cycle. Kalkal’s resilience offers a template of mental strength that coaches across combat sports will study. The awards themselves are intended to become a regular feature after each Asian Games. The inaugural Jaspal Rana and Raja Randhir Singh awards have set a high standard for future recipients.
Mohod and Kalkal have shown that excellence, composure and the capacity to turn difficult situations into triumph remain the qualities that define India’s finest performances on the continental stage. The announcement closes a successful chapter for the Indian contingent in Japan and opens a new one focused on converting Asian Games success into Olympic medals in Los Angeles in two years.
Mohod received the Jaspal Rana Award as the best female athlete, while Kalkal was given the Raja Randhir Singh Award as the best male athlete. The recognition, announced on Saturday, celebrates their gold-medal-winning campaigns that stood out even in a strong overall Indian performance. The individual victory also secured an important quota place for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Kumkum Mohod receives Jaspal Rana Award
Mohod was competing in her first Asian Games. In her first attempt, she delivered one of the most stunning and memorable breakthroughs for Indian archery. She collected three medals, including gold in both the women’s recurve team and individual events. Together with Ankita Bhakat and Kirti, she helped India end South Korea’s remarkable run of seven consecutive Asian Games team titles that had stretched back to the 1998 Bangkok Games. Her individual gold further underlined the achievement as it was the first time South Korea’s women failed to win a recurve gold at the continental showpiece.
Meanwhile, following the award, IOA president PT Usha praised Mohod’s temperament. She said:
“It is fitting that Kumkum is the first recipient of the Jaspal Rana Award, as Jaspal too burst onto the scene as a prodigy at the 1994 Asian Games.”
Usha added:
“Her composure under pressure and her ability to find her best form when her back was to the wall augur extremely well for Indian archery.”
Who was Jaspal Rana?
The Jaspal Rana Award commemorates the late shooting star who first made his mark as a teenager three decades ago. Rana’s early success and subsequent contribution to Indian sport made him a natural figure to honour through the new recognition for the Games’ outstanding female performer. The Indian sport shooter and renowed coach became one of the country’s most decorated pistol athletes. He passed away aged 49 on June 12, 2026. He also coached Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker. Although Bhaker and Rana briefly parted ways in 2021, they reunited in 2023 to prepare for the 2024 Olympics.
Sujeet Kalkal receives Raja Randhir Singh Award
Sujeet Kalkal received the Raja Randhir Singh Award for being the best male athlete from India at the 2026 Asian Games. His path to the Raja Randhir Singh Award was equally dramatic. Competing in the men’s 65kg freestyle category, the 23-year-old produced one of the most memorable comebacks of the entire Games. He first defeated reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan in the semi-final. In the final against Abdulmazhid Kudiyev, he trailed 2-9 with time running out, yet fought back to claim a 10-9 victory and the gold medal.
Kalkal, already a proven senior performer, has now added an Asian Games gold, achieved in the most testing circumstances, to his resume. As Indian athletes return home and begin preparations for the next major events, the double honour serves as both celebration and motivation.
Who was Raja Randhir Singh?
The Raja Randhir Singh Award honours the late sports administrator and former IOA president who passed away earlier this year. He was a five-time Indian Olympian and sports administrator. The legendary sports shooter served as the secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association for 25 years, from 1987 to 2012. He became the first shooter from the country to win the gold medal at the Asian Games, which came in the 1978 edition.
Did Kumkum and Sujeet secure their sports at the 2028 LA Summer Olympics?
Kumkum Mohod, who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the Asian Games individual title in the Women’s Individual Recurve.
For Sujeet, he has not, because the Asian Games is not a qualifying event for wrestling Olympic quotas; those only start from the 2027 World Championships and later events. He has other opportunities where he can qualify by medaling at the 2027 World Championships, ranking high enough in UWW events, winning at the 2028 continental qualifiers, or taking gold at the final World Olympic Qualifier.
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