Bhubaneswar: Teenage quadruple amputee archer Payal Nag from Odisha delivered a major upset by defeating world No. 1 teammate Sheetal Devi to clinch gold, leading India’s dominant campaign at the World Archery Para Series.
The 18-year-old won the compound women’s final 139-136, capping a remarkable outing as India finished on top with seven gold medals in Bangkok. The country secured a total of 16 medals, including five silver and four bronze, according to reports.
Payal registered her second win over Sheetal in just over a year. She had earlier beaten her at the Para Nationals in Jaipur in January 2025.
Competing in only her second international event after debuting at the Dubai 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, Payal showed strong composure under pressure. She started with a perfect 10 to take the opening end 27-25. Sheetal responded to level the contest, with both archers tied at 54 after the second end.
Payal regained control in the third end with scores of 9, 9, and 10 to lead 82-80. She then sealed the match with a clinical end that included two 10s.
Discovered by Coach Kuldeep Vedwan, Payal’s journey reflects resilience. The daughter of a migrant labourer from Odisha’s Balangir district, she lost all four limbs after coming into contact with a live wire at a brick kiln in 2015.
She trained alongside Sheetal at the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex in Katra during 2023-24 before the latter moved to Sonepat.
Sheetal remains one of India’s most decorated para archers, having won two gold medals at the 2022 Asian Para Games and becoming the country’s youngest Paralympic medallist with a mixed team bronze at Paris 2024.
Since her national debut in 2025, Payal has risen rapidly, with a win over Sheetal in Jaipur, a silver at the Khelo India Para Games, and a bronze at the national championships earlier this year.
India’s gold haul also featured strong performances from Toman Kumar and Bhawna.
Toman defeated Australia’s Jonathon Milne 146-142 in the compound men’s final. Bhawna outclassed Thailand’s Phattharaphon Pattawaeo 6-0 in the recurve women’s final.
Double Paralympic medallist Harvinder Singh settled for silver after a 3-7 loss to Indonesia’s Kholidin in the recurve final. Swati Chaudhary also claimed silver, going down 3-7 to South Korea’s Ok Geum Kim in the W1 women’s final.
Earlier, Shyam Sunder Swami secured bronze after edging past compatriot Rakesh Kumar in a closely fought playoff in the compound men’s individual event. Swami won 143 (10*) to 143 (9) in a tie-break.
Rakesh finished fourth following the narrow defeat. In the W1 women’s event, Anjum Tanwar also ended fourth after losing 2-6 in her bronze medal match against a Republic of Korea opponent.
The Bangkok meet followed the Asia Cup first leg held at the same venue, where India had earlier secured 10 medals, including two gold, four silver, and four bronze.
