Swati Chaudhari Smashes Asian Para Games Record in Archery Debut
Indian para archer Swati Chaudhari sets a new Asian Para Games record in Aichi-Nagoya, joining Sheetal Devi in a dominant start for India.
India's archery campaign at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, has begun with an explosive display of precision and power. In a stunning debut performance, Indian para archer Swati Chaudhari has rewritten the history books by setting a new Asian Para Games record in the women’s ranking round.
A Record-Breaking Debut for Swati Chaudhari
Making her first appearance at the Asian Para Games, Swati Chaudhari delivered a masterclass in accuracy on Monday. She amassed a total of 648 points, comfortably surpassing the previous record of 627 points held by China’s Minyi Chen, who had set the mark at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
Swati's journey to the record was a tale of consistent excellence. She scored 332 points in the first half of the round and followed it up with 316 points in the second. Her scorecard was highlighted by an impressive nine X’s and 14 10’s, signaling her arrival as a dominant force in the sport.
Sheetal Devi Equals World Record
The glory didn't stop with Swati. Fellow Indian star Sheetal Devi produced a breathtaking performance at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square, equalling the world record in the women's compound archery ranking round. Sheetal scored 704 out of a possible 720 points, placing her on equal footing with Turkey’s Oznur Cure, the joint world record holder.
Sheetal's consistency was remarkable, as she scored a perfect 352 points in both the first and second halves of the qualification round. Her performance included 32 Xs and 25 10s, securing her the top spot. In doing so, she not only bettered her own Asian record of 698 (set in Bangkok in March) by six points but also crushed her previous Asian Games record of 680 points from Hangzhou 2023.
Strong Team Performance and Doubles Dominance
India's strength in depth was further proven by Payal Nag, who finished joint fifth in the qualification standings with a total of 675 points. Payal showed great momentum, scoring 334 points in the first half and improving to 341 in the second, recording 12 Xs and 20 10s.
The synergy between Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag also translated into a victory for the duo in the Para compound women's doubles ranking round. Together, they topped the standings with a combined score of 1,379 points.
Men's Compound Archery Results
On the men's side, India saw competitive finishes in the compound archery ranking round:
- Harvinder Singh: Finished fifth overall with 631 points. He recorded eight Xs and 13 10s, showing improvement by scoring 310 in the first half and 321 in the second.
- Vijay Sundi: Secured seventh place with a score of 630 points. He recorded six Xs and 13 10s, scoring 318 in the first half and 312 in the second.