Matribhumi Samachar English
Ahmedabad. 14 September 2026
India’s para-sport movement reached another historic milestone as 19-year-old armless archer Sheetal Devi won the women’s compound individual gold medal at the 2026 World Archery Para Series Stage III hosted along the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.
Competing on home soil, Sheetal defeated Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan in a nail-biting shoot-off after the final score tied at 144-144. Under immense pressure, Sheetal delivered a perfect 10 with her deciding arrow, while Seidan scored a 9 to hand the Indian sensation her first individual World Archery Para Series title.
Highlighting Sheetal Devi’s Ahmedabad Triumph
Sheetal Devi (India) [ 10 ] ---> GOLD
Aizada Seidan (Kazakhstan) [ 9 ] ---> SILVER
(Final Score Tied 144-144 Before Shoot-Off)
1. Masterclass in Composure
Sheetal entered the elimination rounds as top seed following a season-best performance of 698 points in qualification, breaking her own Asian record by one point. Her path to the final featured decisive wins over Slovakia’s Liliana Lacova (147-142), Great Britain’s Jessica Stretton (145-142), and teammate Sarita (145-143).
2. World-Record Mixed-Team Performance
Earlier in the tournament, Sheetal combined forces with Rakesh Kumar to set a world record in the compound mixed-team qualification. The pair accumulated 1,400 points (Sheetal 698, Rakesh 702), surpassing their previous world record of 1,399 set at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Sheetal later captured the mixed-team bronze alongside Toman Kumar with a 157-145 victory against Iraq.
World Archery Para Series Stage III: India’s Medal Breakdown
India finished atop the overall standings in Ahmedabad with a tally of 15 medals (4 Gold, 3 Silver, 8 Bronze), demonstrating structural depth across compound, recurve, and W1 divisions.
| Event Category | Medal | Athlete(s) / Team |
| Women’s Compound Individual | Gold | Sheetal Devi |
| Men’s Compound Doubles | Gold | Toman Kumar & Shyam Sunder Swami |
| Men’s Recurve Doubles | Gold | Harvinder Singh & Vijay Sundi |
| Recurve Mixed Team | Gold | Bhawna & Harvinder Singh |
| Women’s Recurve Doubles | Silver | Bhawna & Pooja |
| W1 Mixed Team | Silver | Swati Chaudhary & Adil Mohamed Nazir Ansari |
| Visually Impaired | Silver | Tanvi Pravin Ingale |
| Women’s Compound Individual | Bronze | Sarita |
| Compound Mixed Team | Bronze | Sheetal Devi & Toman Kumar |
Strategic Takeaways for Indian Sports
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Mainstream Visibility: High-profile home performances elevate para-athletes into mainstream national sporting icons.
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Squad Depth Beyond Individuals: Success across multiple categories proves India’s para-archery pipeline no longer depends on single individual talents.
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Momentum for Aichi-Nagoya 2026: This performance provides momentum as athletes prepare to defend their titles at the upcoming Asian Para Games in Japan.
Related Coverage & External Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Sheetal Devi’s latest achievement at Ahmedabad 2026?
Sheetal Devi won the women’s compound individual gold medal and set a compound mixed-team qualification world record of 1,400 points alongside Rakesh Kumar at the World Archery Para Series Stage III in Ahmedabad.
How many medals did India win at the 2026 World Archery Para Series Stage III?
India topped the medal tally with 15 medals—comprising 4 gold, 3 silver, and 8 bronze medals.
What was Sheetal Devi’s qualification score in Ahmedabad?
She scored 698 points in qualification, marking a season-best performance and setting a new Asian record.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes. News reports and statistical details are referenced from public tournament filings and official press releases.
