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Payal Nag Beats World No. 1 Sheetal Devi in Bangkok to Win Para Archery Gold

The upset underscores India’s growing depth ahead of the Para Asian Games.

Overview

  • Payal Nag won the women’s compound title at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok with a 139–136 final over world No. 1 Sheetal Devi.
  • Nag, an 18-year-old quadruple amputee from Odisha, achieved the victory in only her second international appearance.
  • Sheetal Devi, the reigning World Archery Para Champion and Para-Archer of the Year, said her priority now is the Para Asian Games in Japan later this year.
  • Coaches and athletes described their head-to-head as healthy competition that can raise standards and boost India’s medal chances at the Asian Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
  • The team is training in Patiala and plans a U.S. exposure stint backed by the Sports Authority of India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, with visa hurdles noted by coach Gaurav Sharma.