Mandaviya Hails Asian Games 2026 Gold Winners
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya celebrates gold medal wins by Sujeet Kalkal, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal at the Asian Games 2026.
SLUG: mandaviya-hails-asian-games-gold-winners FOCUS: Asian Games 2026 gold medals SEO_TITLE: Mandaviya Hails Asian Games 2026 Gold Winners SEO_DESC: Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya celebrates gold medal wins by Sujeet Kalkal, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal at the Asian Games 2026. TAGS: India Sports News, Asian Games 2026, India, Athletics News
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has lauded the exceptional performances of Indian athletes following a massive haul of gold medals at the Asian Games 2026. The Minister specifically congratulated boxers Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal, alongside wrestler Sujeet Kalkal, for their sensational victories on Friday.
Sujeet Kalkal’s Dramatic Wrestling Comeback
In a breathtaking display of resilience, wrestler Sujeet Kalkal secured a historic gold medal in the men's freestyle 65kg category. Facing Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev, Sujeet appeared to be on the verge of defeat, trailing 2-9 with just 1 minute and 40 seconds remaining on the clock.
In a stunning turnaround, Sujeet executed a series of rapid takedowns to shift the momentum, ultimately sealing the gold medal with only eleven seconds left in the match. Minister Mandaviya expressed his awe at the performance, highlighting the dramatic last-minute victory.
Boxing Dominance: Hooda and Panghal Strike Gold
The boxing ring saw significant success for India, with two athletes clinching top honors:
- Parveen Hooda: Secured gold in the Women’s 65kg Boxing event. Mandaviya described her as "unstoppable in the ring."
- Ankush Panghal: Clinched gold in the Men’s 80kg Boxing event after a sensational victory over South Korea's Kim Minseong.
Historic Archery and Other Medal Successes
The gold rush extended beyond combat sports. In a landmark achievement for Indian archery, the women's recurve trio of Kumkum Mohod, Ankita Bhakat, and Kirti Sharma defeated South Korea 5-3 to claim India's first-ever gold in the discipline at the Asian Games. 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod was the standout performer, delivering crucial 10s in the final stages.
Other notable performances included:
- Lovlina Borgohain: Celebrated her 29th birthday with a gold medal in the women's 75kg boxing event, defeating China's Bao Ziyi 5-0.
- Nethra Kumanan: Secured a bronze medal in the women's dinghy sailing event.
- Sepaktakraw Team: The men's quadrant (Malemnganba Singh Sorokhaibam, Ram Kumar Sharma, Bobby Kumar, and Akash Yumnam) earned a bronze medal after a hard-fought semifinal against Japan.
India's Growing Medal Tally
As the Aichi-Nagoya games continue, India's overall tally has reached 75 medals, consisting of 15 golds, 25 silvers, and 35 bronzes.