Asian Para Games 2026: Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag Clinch Silver
Indian archers Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag secure silver at Asian Para Games 2026. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi hails their resilience and Nari Shakti.
India has secured its first-ever medal in para-archery at the Asian Para Games 2026, as the duo of Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag delivered a stellar performance to claim the silver medal in the Women’s Compound Doubles event in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
A Historic Achievement for India
The pair entered the final with high hopes after topping the ranking round, signaling their dominance early in the competition. However, the gold medal match proved to be a tough battle. Facing off against China's Xueqing Xu and Jing Zhao, the Indian archers struggled to maintain their rhythm, eventually falling 141-150 to the commanding Chinese duo.
Despite the narrow miss for the top spot, the silver medal marks a significant milestone for Indian para-archery on the international stage.
Odisha CM Hails 'Nari Shakti'
The victory brought immense pride to the state of Odisha, the home of Payal Nag. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate the athletes, praising their spirit and grit.
"Heartiest congratulations to Indian para archers Sheetal Devi and Odisha’s Payal Nag on winning the Silver Medal in the Women’s Compound Doubles event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. A proud moment for India and Odisha, showcasing the power of determination, resilience, and Nari Shakti! Wishing both champions greater success ahead," the Chief Minister wrote.
More Silver for India: Preeti Pal Shines
The day was equally productive for India in the athletics arena. Paralympic medalist Preeti Pal added another silver to India's tally in the women's 100m T35 category.
In a nail-biting finish, Preeti clocked a time of 13.98 seconds. She finished just 0.41 seconds behind the gold medalist, Zhou Xia of China, who not only took the top spot but also established a new Asian Para Games record.