FPJ Exclusive | 'We Were So Close To Gold': Manu Francis Opens Up On Winning Silver Medal With Prince Noble In Men's Skiff Event At Asian Games

Indian sailors Prince Noble and Manu Francis secured the silver medal in the men’s skiff event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Their path to the podium was marked by a rollercoaster of emotions, as they came tantalizingly close to the gold before the risk of missing a medal altogether loomed. In an interview with The Free Press Journal, Manu Francis shared the highs and lows of their journey.

"It feels great. We were almost close to the gold," Francis reminisced. The duo faced the daunting prospect of not winning a medal, which fueled an intense final race that ultimately secured them the silver. Francis described the contrasting emotions, noting how the possibility of gold turned into a fear of losing a podium position.

Their performance in the finale provided the relief they needed, allowing them to conclude their campaign with a medal. Reflecting on the result, Francis expressed the bittersweet nature of the victory, acknowledging both the disappointment of narrowly missing gold and the joy of a podium finish for India. For Prince Noble and Manu Francis, the silver medal represented the bittersweet culmination of their sailing campaign, showcasing the pressure, uncertainty, and eventual triumph that characterize elite-level competition.