World Archery Para Series 2026 opens in Ahmedabad, city's 5th global event in 6 months
Synopsis
Ahmedabad is quietly becoming India's para-sports capital. The World Archery Para Series 2026 — the city's fifth international tournament in just six months — brought 108 archers from 19 countries to the Sabarmati Riverfront, with world champion Sheetal Devi winning Para Archer of the Year. Gujarat's ₹66 crore sports budget and a planned AI-powered para-training centre in Gandhinagar signal this is a sustained strategy, not a one-off.
Key Takeaways
The World Archery Para Series (WAPS) 2026 opened at Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad on 5 September 2026 , running until 9 September .
108 archers from 19 countries are competing across Recurve Open, Compound Open, W1, and Visually Impaired categories.
World Para Archery champion Sheetal Devi received the Para Archer of the Year award at the opening ceremony.
Gujarat has allocated ₹66 crore for sports in 2026-27 and is developing an AI-enabled Para Sports Training Centre in Gandhinagar .
The Khel Mahakumbh now draws more than 75 lakh athletes annually, according to Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi .
Gujarat has stated ambitions to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and eventually the Olympics .
The World Archery Para Series (WAPS) 2026 got underway at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad on 5 September 2026, marking the city's fifth international sporting tournament in six months. The five-day championship, running through 9 September, has drawn 108 archers from 19 countries, making it one of the largest para-archery gatherings held on Indian soil.
Key Developments
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the event at the Sabarmati Riverfront, while Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah virtually launched the championship. Sanghavi described the occasion as 'not merely a competition, but a celebration of human potential and strong determination.'
World Para Archery champion Sheetal Devi was presented the Para Archer of the Year award by World Archery Executive Director Juan Carlos Holgado during the opening ceremony — a moment that underscored India's rising stature in para-sports on the global stage.
Nations and Categories
The participating nations include India, China, Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Slovakia, the United States, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cyprus, Czechia, Iraq, and the Russian Federation. Competition spans four categories: Recurve Open, Compound Open, W1, and Visually Impaired.
Gujarat's Sports Infrastructure Push
Sanghavi highlighted that the frequency of international events reflects a deliberate expansion of sports infrastructure in the state. Gujarat, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has allocated ₹66 crore for sports in the 2026-27 financial year. An advanced Para Sports Training Centre incorporating artificial intelligence and sports science is also being developed in Gandhinagar.
Sanghavi also noted the scale of the Khel Mahakumbh — a grassroots sports initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister — which now sees more than 75 lakh athletes participate annually.
Ahmedabad's Larger Sporting Ambition
The Deputy Chief Minister reiterated Gujarat's long-term objective of establishing itself as a global sports hub, citing aspirations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and, further ahead, the Olympics. Notably, Sanghavi pointed to archery as a natural strength among youth from tribal communities, several of whom have gone on to represent India internationally. This comes amid a broader national push to develop para-sports pathways, making WAPS 2026 both a competitive milestone and a platform for inclusion.
Point of View
However, will need more than infrastructure; it will require the Centre's formal backing and a credible host-city dossier that Ahmedabad has yet to publicly release.
NationPress
5 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the World Archery Para Series 2026 in Ahmedabad?
The World Archery Para Series (WAPS) 2026 is an international para-archery championship being held at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad from 5 to 9 September 2026. It features 108 archers from 19 countries competing across four categories: Recurve Open, Compound Open, W1, and Visually Impaired.
Who is Sheetal Devi and what award did she receive?
Sheetal Devi is India's world para-archery champion. At the WAPS 2026 opening ceremony, she was presented the Para Archer of the Year award by World Archery Executive Director Juan Carlos Holgado, recognising her achievements on the global para-sports stage.
Why is Ahmedabad hosting so many international sporting events?
Ahmedabad's WAPS 2026 is the city's fifth international sporting tournament in six months, according to Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. The state government attributes this to expanded sports infrastructure and a growing sporting ecosystem backed by a ₹66 crore sports budget for 2026-27.
What is Gujarat's long-term sports ambition?
Gujarat aims to establish itself as a global sports hub, with stated aspirations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and, in the future, the Olympics. The state is also developing an AI-powered Para Sports Training Centre in Gandhinagar to support elite para-athletes.
Which countries are participating in WAPS 2026?
The 19 participating nations include India, China, Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Slovakia, the United States, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cyprus, Czechia, Iraq, and the Russian Federation.
