- 05 October, 2026
Kochi , October 5, 2026: For cousins Prince Kurisinkal Noble and Manu Francis, the sea has been more than a sporting arena. It has been part of their family, their upbringing, their faith and their journey. On October 1, 2026, it carried them into Asian Games history.
Prince Kurisinkal Noble and Manu Francis created history at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by winning India's first silver medal in the men's skiff sailing event.
The cousins from Kochi finished the nine-race series with 23 net points at the Kaiyoh Yacht Harbor. China won gold with 16 points, while Hong Kong China took bronze with 24.
For India, it was a landmark achievement — the country's first Asian Games silver medal in men's skiff sailing and India's first sailing medal at the 2026 Games.
But for Noble, the medal carried a meaning much deeper than the podium.
Noble's relationship with the sea has been shaped by both love and loss.
His father was a fisherman, and the sea was always close to their home in Ernakulam. Noble began sailing in 2009, when he was just 13 and studying in Class VII.
In 2018, however, tragedy struck. Noble lost his father during the devastating Kerala floods.
The loss could have changed his relationship with the water forever. Instead, Noble continued pursuing the sport that had connected him to his father and to the sea.
After winning silver, he dedicated the medal to his father, mother, coach, well-wishers and the people of India. “With the silver medal today, I have done more than what my father had wanted. After my father's death, my mother has been my support system.”
For Noble, the historic medal was therefore not simply a sporting achievement. It was a tribute to his family and to the people who helped him continue when life became difficult.
The journey of Noble and Francis is also a story of Christian faith, family and perseverance.
Their Christian faith forms an important part of the values that have accompanied them through their sporting journey — gratitude for their opportunities, trust in God through difficult moments and perseverance when circumstances do not go according to plan.
Noble's story is particularly poignant in this regard. The death of his father in the 2018 floods could have become a defining tragedy. Instead, he continued forward, supported by his mother and surrounded by family and well-wishers.
Their achievement in Japan is a reminder that sporting success is rarely achieved alone. Behind every medal are families, coaches, sacrifices and, for athletes of faith, a deep trust in God.
For Noble and Francis, sailing began almost naturally.
Coming from Kerala, they were surrounded by backwaters and the sea. Relatives introduced them to sailing, and what initially seemed like simply playing in the water eventually became a passion.
Francis began sailing at 14. “Since we are from Kerala, we started sailing at the backwaters. Some of our cousins came into sailing. They told us about sailing. We didn't know much about it initially but later developed a passion.”
The cousins have now been sailing together for around a decade. They trained at the Mumbai Yachting Node of the Indian Army and won bronze at the 2023 Asian Sailing Championships.
Their partnership has become one of instinctive understanding. “We are cousins and we grew together. Also, we have been sailing together for the past 10 years. We don't have to talk much. We understand. We can handle the bad days very easily.”
That understanding proved crucial in Aichi-Nagoya.
The Indian pair won Race 3 and finished second in Races 1, 5 and 9. Their sixth-place finish in Race 8 was discarded, leaving them with 23 net points.
The Asian Games were the first for both sailors, and their debut could hardly have been more memorable. “It's a special feeling for us to win a silver medal in our first Asian Games,” Noble said.
For Francis, the next hope is that their success will inspire more Indians to discover sailing. “We hope the medal brings more awareness about sailing in India.”
From the backwaters of Kerala to the Asian Games podium, Prince Noble and Manu Francis have shown what can happen when talent, family, faith and perseverance come together.
For Noble, the sea that was once associated with the loss of his father has now become the place where he fulfilled a dream.
Together, the cousins have sailed into history — carrying with them the hopes of their families, the pride of Kerala and India, and a story of faith and resilience that reaches far beyond a silver medal.
By Catholic Connect Reporter
Photo credit: AAIGNC
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