Kumkum Mohod and Sujeet Kalkal receive inaugural Asian Games athlete awards

The Indian Olympic Association has named Kumkum Mohod and Sujeet Kalkal the inaugural recipients of its awards for the best female and male athletes at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Mohod, 17, has received the Jaspal Rana Award after winning three medals at her debut Asian Games. She won gold in the women’s recurve team and individual events, helping India end South Korea’s seven-edition run of team titles in the discipline.

Mohod teamed up with Ankita Bhakat and Kirti to win the team event before adding the individual gold. The result also secured an Olympic quota place for India for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. IOA president P.T.

Usha said Mohod’s performance under pressure made her a suitable first recipient of an award named after former Asian Games teenage star Jaspal Rana. Usha praised the archer’s composure and ability to perform in difficult moments. Kalkal, 23, has been named the first recipient of the Raja Randhir Singh Award after winning the men’s 65kg freestyle wrestling gold.

He defeated Japan’s reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka in the semi-final and recovered from a 2-9 deficit against Abdulmazhid Kudiyev in the final to win 10-9. His victory extended India’s Asian Games success in the 65kg class, following gold medals by Yogeshwar Dutt in 2014 and Bajrang Punia in 2018. Usha praised Kalkal’s late comeback and fighting spirit.

The IOA created the two awards to recognise outstanding Asian Games performances and commemorate Jaspal Rana and Raja Randhir Singh, described in the source material as stalwarts of Indian sport who died earlier this year. The athletes will be felicitated at a ceremony in the coming days. India finished fourth in the overall Asian Games standings with 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals.