Indian Sailors Shine at Asian Games: Nethra Kumanan Wins Bronze, Vishnu Saravanan Aims for Olympic Glory

Indian sailor Nethra Kumanan has finally clinched her first Asian Games medal, a bronze in the women's dinghy event, dedicating it to her supporters. Meanwhile, fellow sailor Vishnu Saravanan, who narrowly missed a medal, is now focused on achieving Olympic success at the upcoming Los Angeles Games. Both athletes reflect on their journeys and set their sights on future competitions, highlighting the challenges faced during the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Read on to discover their inspiring stories and aspirations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 8, 2026, 04:01 IST

Nethra Kumanan Celebrates Her First Asian Games Medal

After overcoming her previous disappointments, Indian sailor Nethra Kumanan finally secured a bronze medal in the women's dinghy event at the Asian Games 2026. This achievement marks a significant improvement from her past performances, where she finished fourth in Hangzhou, seventh in Incheon 2014, and fifth in Jakarta 2018.

Upon her return to India, Nethra expressed her gratitude, stating, "I dedicate this medal to my parents and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. It's been a long road, and finally, I have a medal to show for my efforts. It's surreal, and I want to thank everyone who believed in me."

In the final series at Kaiyoh Yacht Harbour, Nethra accumulated 14 points, finishing sixth in the first race but clinching victory in the second, which secured her third place overall, behind competitors from Thailand and Singapore.

Despite her bronze medal, Nethra felt capable of winning gold, saying, "I am a bit disappointed because I was good enough to win gold. However, sailing is about minimizing mistakes, and I made a few too many. I hope to make my country prouder next time."

Preparing for Los Angeles 2028

Nethra, who made history as the first Indian woman sailor to qualify for the Olympics, has already participated in the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games. She finished 35th in Tokyo and 21st in Paris.

Looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics, she plans to take a short break before resuming training. "My focus is now on qualifying for LA and achieving the best possible result there. I will take at least two weeks off before getting back to training, with the first qualifiers scheduled for January in Brazil," she added.

Nethra's bronze medal is part of India's three sailing medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, which also included a silver for Manu Francis and Prince Kurisinkal Noble in the men's skiff, and a bronze for Harshita Tomar and Shital Verma in the women's skiff.

Vishnu Saravanan Sets His Sights on Olympic Success

In the men's dinghy event, Vishnu Saravanan finished fourth with 21 points, narrowly missing out on a medal after winning bronze at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou.

The 27-year-old, who serves as a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, noted the challenging weather conditions during the competition. "It was a tough month with many challenges, especially due to the tidal and overcast conditions that made racing difficult," he explained.

Vishnu expressed happiness for Nethra's success, stating, "I am thrilled for Nethra Kumanan, who finally earned a medal after a long wait since her first Asian Games in 2014." He also congratulated Harshita Tomar for becoming a two-time Asian Games medallist.

Despite missing the podium this time, Vishnu remains focused on his ultimate goal of winning an Olympic medal, with the qualification process for the LA Games starting soon. "The Olympics is my target; I aim to win a medal there. With LA just around a thousand days away, I will take a few days off before returning to training, with our first qualification event in January in Brazil," he stated.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games also served as a qualification pathway for the LA 2028 Olympics, providing Indian sailors with immediate goals to build upon their performances in Japan.