Gold Glory: Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar Conquer Asian Para Games
Indian para archers Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar clinch gold in the compound mixed team event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan.
India's para-archery campaign reached a historic peak at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as the duo of Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar clinched the gold medal in the compound mixed team event. Their victory marks a significant milestone, being India's first archery gold of this edition.
A Thrilling Final Against Indonesia
The final was a tense encounter against the Indonesian pair, Teodora Audi Ayudia Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang. The Indian duo established their dominance early, ending the first end with a slim 38-37 lead. They further solidified their position in the second end, scoring 39 to push their lead to 77-73.
While the third end saw a slight dip with a score of 36, Sheetal and Toman managed to hold onto a three-point cushion. In a high-pressure closing sequence, the pair bounced back with a strong 38 in the final end, securing a 151-148 victory to stand atop the podium.
The Nerve-Wracking Road to the Final
The journey to the gold was far from easy. In the semi-finals, India faced a grueling battle against Chinese Taipei’s Yun-hsien Lee and Jyun-kai Yang. Although India held a comfortable 112-103 lead after the third end, the momentum shifted when a missed shot by Toman Kumar put the pair under immense pressure.
Showing remarkable resilience, the duo recovered in spectacular fashion. They hit three consecutive shots directly into the 10-ring, edging out their opponents with a narrow 142-141 win to book their place in the final.
India's Golden Run Continues
The victory by Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar is India's 16th gold medal of the ongoing Asian Para Games. It was one of two golds claimed by the nation on Thursday.
Suvarna Raj Adds to the Tally
Earlier in the day, the gold rush continued in the athletics arena. Suvarna Raj dominated the women’s discus throw F54 event. Competing against five other athletes, Suvarna displayed incredible consistency, recording four throws that exceeded the 15-metre mark.
Her gold-medal-winning performance came during her fifth attempt, where she achieved a best throw of 15.66 metres, ensuring she finished at the top of the podium.