Ahmedabad, September 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
World Archery Para champion and home favourite Sheetal Devi advanced to the compound women’s individual final at the third stage of the 2026 World Archery Para Series after defeating compatriot Sarita 145-143 in the semi-final here on Monday.
The top-seeded Indian will face Kazakhstan’s second seed Aizada Seidan in Wednesday’s final, while Sarita will compete for the bronze medal against China’s Wang Huiting. Wang had eliminated Payal Nag, the world’s first quadruple amputee, in the second round.
Sheetal had earlier underlined her strong form by shooting a season-best 698 in Sunday’s qualification round to finish at the top. The 19-year-old armless archer also surpassed her own Asian record by one point, which she had set at the second stage in Nove Mesto.
Sheetal’s qualification round included 25 tens and 26 Xs, with the X-ring serving as the tie-breaker within the 10-ring. She finished 10 points clear of the field, strengthening her preparations for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, where she will defend her compound women’s individual and mixed team titles.
Seidan also produced a career-best 688, including 17 Xs. Tokyo 2020 champion Phoebe Paterson Pine finished fifth with 681, while Payal scored 654 to place 14th in the 72-arrow qualification round.
Sheetal also teamed up with seasoned archer Rakesh Kumar to set a new world record in the compound mixed team qualification, combining for 1,400 points. The score improved their previous world record, set at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, by one point. The duo had also won mixed team bronze at Paris 2024.
Sheetal secured the top seed in the compound women’s doubles after partnering Lalpati for a combined score of 1,368.
In the men’s compound individual event, reigning world champion Toman Kumar, seeded fourth, will compete for bronze against Iraq’s Abbas Kadhim, who defeated Rakesh in the opening round.
Rakesh finished two points behind Swagumilang, who registered a career-best 702, while Toman scored 696 to finish fourth. Rakesh and Toman also combined for 1,398 points to secure the top seed in the compound men’s doubles.
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