World Archery Para Series 2026 : Sheetal Devi, the 19-year-old Indian para-archery star and reigning world champion, claimed her first individual World Archery Para Series title by winning gold in the women’s compound event at Stage 3 in Ahmedabad (5–9 September 2026). The home favourite defeated Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan in a tense shoot-off after the final finished level at 144-144, sealing victory with a perfect 10 against Seidan’s 9.
This victory at the Sabarmati Riverfront venue marked a landmark moment for the armless archer from Jammu and Kashmir and capped a dominant performance on home soil during India’s first hosting of a World Archery Para Series stage.
World Archery Para Series 2026 : How the Final Unfolded
Sheetal entered the eliminations as the top seed after a season-best qualification score of 698, which also improved her own Asian record by one point. She progressed strongly:
- Round of 16: Beat Slovakia’s Liliana Lacova 147-142
- Quarter-finals: Defeated Great Britain’s Jessica Stretton 145-142
- Semi-finals: Overcame fellow Indian Sarita 145-143
In the gold-medal match, both archers stayed locked for much of the contest. After five ends ended 144-all, the shoot-off decided the champion. Sheetal held her nerve under pressure from the home crowd and delivered the perfect 10.
She also contributed to a mixed-team world record earlier in the event, partnering with Rakesh Kumar to score 1,400 points in compound mixed team qualification (surpassing their previous mark of 1,399 set at the Paris 2024 Paralympics). Sheetal later added a bronze in the compound mixed team with Toman Kumar.
India’s Strong Haul
India finished the competition with an impressive 15 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 8 bronze) and placed second on the medal table. Other Indian golds included men’s compound doubles (Toman Kumar & Shyam Sunder Swami), men’s recurve doubles (Harvinder Singh & Vijay Sundi), and recurve mixed team (Bhawna & Harvinder Singh).
Who Is Sheetal Devi?
Born without arms, Sheetal shoots with her feet and has become one of India’s most inspiring para-athletes. She made history as the first woman without arms to win a para-archery world title at the 2025 World Archery Para Championships in Gwangju. A Paris 2024 Paralympic mixed-team bronze medallist (with Rakesh Kumar) and current world No. 1, she continues to raise the bar while preparing to defend titles at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games.
Her composure in high-pressure situations, technical excellence, and rapid rise have made her a role model in para-sports and a source of national pride.
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This home gold strengthens Sheetal Devi position as a leading contender heading into major events later in 2026. Her combination of record-breaking qualification performances and clutch finals shooting underscores why she is regarded as one of the brightest talents in para-archery worldwide.
Sheetal Devi’s triumph in Ahmedabad is more than a medal—it is another chapter in an extraordinary story of determination, skill, and inspiration.
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