Sheetal Devi wins individual gold at World Archery Para Series in Ahmedabad
Sheetal Devi secured her first individual title on the World Archery Para Series circuit after defeating Kazakhstan's Aizada Seidan in a shoot-off in Ahmedabad.
Sheetal Devi secured her first individual title on the World Archery Para Series circuit on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, edging Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan in a tense shoot-off at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, according to India Today. The triumph crowned a historic week for the host nation, which concluded the tournament with a substantial medal haul on home soil.
The competition, held from September 5 to September 9, 2026, marked the first time India hosted a World Archery Para Series tournament, as reported by GK Today. For the reigning world champion, the victory added another landmark to a meteoric career. Born without arms due to phocomelia in Loidhar village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, Sheetal did not encounter a bow and arrow until around age 15, according to The Logical Indian. She entered the knockout stages as the top seed after posting a qualification score of 698, which bettered her own Asian record by a single point, India Today reported.
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In the compound women’s final on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Sheetal and Seidan remained deadlocked at 144-144 after the regulation ends. In the subsequent shoot-off, the Indian archer maintained her composure to shoot a 10 in the innermost section of the target, while Seidan managed a 9. The outcome sparked celebrations among the home crowd and her teammates.
Beyond Sheetal's individual success, the host nation's athletes delivered across multiple classifications. India finished the event with 15 medals—four gold, three silver, and eight bronze—placing second in the overall standings behind the Czech Republic, which claimed five gold medals, Awaz The Voice reported. China placed third with two gold, six silver, and five bronze medals.
Among the other gold-medal performances, Paralympic champion Harvinder Singh teamed up with Bhawna to secure the para recurve mixed team title with a 6-0 victory over China, according to 10net.in. Harvinder also combined with Vijay Sundi to win the recurve men's doubles final against Slovakia, as noted by India Today. In the compound discipline, Toman Kumar and Shyam Sunder Swami secured gold in the men's team event by defeating Iraq.
| Medal Category | India Total | Notable Events & Champions |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 4 | Sheetal Devi (Individual Compound); Harvinder Singh & Bhawna (Recurve Mixed Team); Harvinder Singh & Vijay Sundi (Recurve Men's Doubles); Toman Kumar & Shyam Sunder Swami (Compound Men's Doubles) |
| Silver | 3 | Bhawna & Pooja (Recurve Women's Doubles); Tanvi Ingale (Visually Impaired Category); Swati Chaudhary & Adil Mohammed Nazir Ansari (W1 Mixed Team) |
| Bronze | 8 | Includes podium finishes by Sarita, Toman Kumar, Swati Chaudhary, and Yugal Garg across individual and doubles events |
The event also featured strong international representation. Kazakhstan secured a historic victory in the team compound event at 50 meters through Aizada Seidan and Zhanat Aitimova, who captured gold, Qazinform reported. Coach Furkat Gulmatov noted that the achievement marked the first international gold medal for their athletes in the team event, while Seidan added a silver in the individual compound competition.
For Indian contenders, the Ahmedabad gathering provided vital preparation. Athletes are turning their focus toward the upcoming 5th Asian Para Games in Japan, scheduled for October 18–24, 2026, where continental titles and defense of previous records await.
