World Record Alert: Sheetal Devi Storms Into Asian Para Games Final
Para-archer Sheetal Devi breaks a world record and reaches the final at the 2026 Asian Para Games. Read more about India's medal haul.
Indian para-archery sensation Sheetal Devi has delivered a masterclass in precision and power at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. By securing a spot in the women's compound archery final, Sheetal has not only guaranteed a medal for India but has also etched her name into the history books with a stunning world record.
The Road to the Gold Medal Match
Sheetal's journey to the final has been a dominant display of skill. In a high-stakes semi-final clash on Tuesday, she overcame Japan's Shinohara Aya with a convincing score of 145-137. This victory sets up a thrilling gold-medal showdown against Singapore's Alim Nur Syahidah, scheduled for October 22.
Her path to the semi-finals was equally impressive. Sheetal displayed relentless consistency, defeating Agustina Bantiloc of the Philippines 147-135 in the quarter-finals. Earlier, in the pre-quarterfinals, she took down Hong Kong's Chan Yuen Wah with a score of 149-134.
A Historic World Record
Beyond the wins, the elimination rounds witnessed a historic moment. During her match against Chan Yuen Wah, Sheetal scored an incredible 149 points, shattering the previous world record of 148 held by Jessica Stretton.
Other Archery Highlights
India's archery campaign continues to shine with Swati Chaudhary also advancing to the final in the women's W1 category. Swati secured her place after a decisive 6-2 victory over South Korea's Lee Eunhee in the semi-finals.
However, there was a setback in the men's compound event. World champion Toman Kumar faced a tough challenge from China's Ai Xin Liang, losing 144-149 in the semi-final. Kumar will now shift his focus to the bronze-medal match.
India's Massive Medal Haul
The 2026 Asian Para Games have seen India maintain a blistering pace. On Day 2 alone, the nation clinched 11 medals, matching the impressive tally from Day 1.
Key Performers Across Events:
- Athletics: Deepthi Jeevanji claimed gold in the women's 400m T20. In the men's javelin throw F53/F54, Pradeep Kumar won silver and Ayush Verma took bronze. Additionally, Praveen Sharma secured bronze in the men's shot put F11.
- Para Table Tennis: A strong showing from the squad saw Baby Sahana Ravi, Prachi Pandey, Bhavina Patel, Sonalben Patel, and Jehan Madan all winning bronze medals in their respective categories.
- Shooting and Powerlifting: Manish Narwal earned silver in the men's 10m air pistol SH1, while Ashok Kumar Malik grabbed silver in the men's up to 65 kg para powerlifting event.