Kumkum Anil Mohod and Sujeet Kalkal Win First IOA Honours

Archer Kumkum Anil Mohod and wrestler Sujeet Kalkal are the first ever winners of the Jaspal Rana Award and the Raja Randhir Singh Award given by the Indian Olympic Association.

The Award Winners

Kumkum Anil Mohod won three medals, including two gold, at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on her debut. She helped end South Korea's long win streak in women's recurve archery by taking team gold with Ankita Bhakat and Kirti. She also won the individual gold and secured a quota place for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Sujeet Kalkal won gold in the men's 65kg freestyle wrestling event to receive the Raja Randhir Singh Award. He beat Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka in the semifinal and made a big comeback from 2-9 down to win the final 10-9 against Abdulmazhid Kudiyev.

Context

These new awards celebrate the top female and male sportspersons of the Games while remembering two major figures in Indian sports who died earlier this year. India ended the Asian Games in fourth place on the medal table with a total of 85 medals, which included 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze.