Kolkata. Archers Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Kirti Sharma and rower Satnam Singh, who made the country proud by performing brilliantly in the Asian Games 2026, were honored by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Kolkata on Monday.
Along with the players, their coaches were also honored in the ceremony. On this occasion, Sahil said that even after achieving success, it is very important to remain connected to the ground and keep working hard.
Sahil showcased his talent in Indian archery by winning two gold medals in the Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He won gold medals in the men’s compound team and mixed compound team events.
At the same time, Kirti Sharma, being a part of the women’s recurve team, contributed in winning the historic gold medal. In rowing, Satnam Singh won the bronze medal in the men’s double sculls event.
Sahil’s trainer Haresh Kumar, Kirti’s coach Udham Singh and Satnam’s trainer and Arjuna award winner Inderpal Singh were also present in the felicitation ceremony.
Haresh Kumar trains Sahil at SAI’s National Center of Excellence in Kolkata, while Udham Singh trains Kirti at the SAI Training Center in Hazaribagh. Inderpal Singh guides rowing players at the SAI center in Jagatpur.
Sahil praised the contribution of coach and SAI
Sahil Jadhav attributed his success to the guidance of trainers and the support he received from SAI.
He said that lessons from coaches and constant practice helped him reach this point. He stressed that even after great achievements, it is important to remain humble and continue working hard.
Satnam Singh, while sharing his journey of winning the bronze medal in double sculls, said that initially he was confident of winning a medal in the men’s quadruple sculls event, but at the last moment he was asked to participate in double sculls.
He was initially unsure after this change, yet he resolved to do his best.
Satnam said that India had never won an Asian Games medal in this event before.
He has broken this psychological barrier by winning the medal with his partner Salman Khan. According to him, this will strengthen India’s chances of winning more medals in this event in future.
SAI praised the players and coaches
Sibanand Mishra, Regional Director, SAI National Center of Excellence, while congratulating the players and their coaches, said that their achievements in the Asian Games are a matter of pride for the country.
He said that these performances reflect the dedication, patience and competitive spirit of the players. SAI appreciated the efforts of the players and their supporting teams and wished them all the best for the future.
With Sahil’s achievements, India has also got a significant boost in its preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He has secured a quota place for India in the mixed compound event.
At the ceremony, the achievements of the players were cited as examples of the growing competitive edge and contribution of coaches in Indian sports.