Asian Games: Manu Francis, Prince Noble Kurisinkal Win India’s First Sailing Silver

Childhood friends Manu Francis and Prince Noble Kurisinkal fought back in the final race to secure silver in the men’s skiff event at the Asian Games, opening India’s medal account in sailing.

By All India Story

1 Oct 2026, 2:07 PM IST 2 min read

Manu Francis and Prince Noble Kurisinkal celebrate their Asian Games sailing silver — Manu Francis and Prince Noble Kurisinkal won silver in the men’s skiff event at the Asian Games.

Manu Francis Noble Kurisinkal have added a memorable chapter to India’s Asian Games campaign, winning silver in the men’s skiff event and opening the country’s medal account in sailing. The achievement also marked a remarkable milestone for the childhood friends, whose journey began together on Cherai beach in Kochi with a makeshift boat.

The two sailors first took up the sport while they were in Class 7. P Madhu, a coach at the National Sailing School, spotted their potential and encouraged them to train seriously. The pair spent two years at the National Sailing School in Bhopal before returning to Kerala.

Back home, Francis and Noble continued their development under retired Colonel Navneet Mittal and Suresh Pillai at the Muziris Yachting Club. After completing their Plus Two education, both joined the Indian Army while continuing to compete in sailing.

Since 2020, the duo have worked with coach Sandeep Jain and intensified their training at the Army Yachting Node in Mumbai.

From national competition to Asian Games silver

Their competitive journey dates back to the Silver Jubilee National Laser Regatta in 2010. They later established themselves internationally, winning bronze at the Asian Sailing Championships in Abu Dhabi in 2022 and repeating the achievement in Thailand in 2023.

The Asian Games marked their debut at the continental event. Follow Asian Games 2026 updates

Final-race comeback seals silver

Francis and Noble finished the nine-race competition with 23 points to claim silver. China’s Wen Zaiding and Liu Tian won gold with 16 points.

In sailing, competitors accumulate points based on their finishing positions, with lower overall scores being better. Francis and Noble won race 3 and finished second in races 1, 5 and 9.

Their medal hopes appeared to have slipped after they finished last in race 8. However, the childhood friends responded in the decisive final race, finishing second and moving back into medal position.

China’s greater consistency, including four race wins, ultimately secured gold, while the Indian pair’s late fightback delivered a historic sailing silver.