Anurag Thakur Hails Sheetal Devi's Asian Para Games Gold Defence
Synopsis
Sheetal Devi defended her Women's Individual Compound title at the Asian Para Games 2026, earning a second consecutive gold. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Sports Minister, celebrated the feat on X, calling the nation proud. The achievement underscores India's rising para-archery dominance ahead of the 2028 Paralympics.
Key Takeaways
Sheetal Devi successfully defended her Women's Individual Compound title at the Asian Para Games 2026 , winning back-to-back gold medals in the event.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur posted a congratulatory message on X on 22 October 2026 , calling the feat 'Double Gold for Sheetal.' Sheetal Devi competes without arms, drawing the bowstring with her feet — a technique that has brought her to the top of Asian para-archery.
India's Khelo India scheme (launched 2017 ) has included dedicated para-athlete training and competition support, contributing to such podium results.
With the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles approaching, Sheetal Devi is firmly established as one of India's top medal prospects.
She came, she aimed, she conquered — again. Sheetal Devi has successfully defended her Women's Individual Compound title at the Asian Para Games 2026, making it a double gold for the young Indian para-archer and sending the nation into celebration. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, was among the first to salute the achievement on Thursday, 22 October 2026.
Posting on X with the words 'Double Gold for Sheetal,' Thakur wrote: 'Heartiest congratulations to Sheetal Devi on successfully defending her Women's Individual Compound title at the Asian Para Games 2026. The entire nation is proud of you! Jai Hind.' The post, accompanied by a video, carried the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat — a rallying call that has become shorthand for India's growing para-sports pride.
Sheetal Devi: The archer who redefined possible
Sheetal Devi has emerged as one of India's most iconic para-athletes, competing in the compound category — a discipline that demands extraordinary precision and mental composure. Born without arms, she draws the bowstring with her feet, a technique that has stunned the global archery community and placed her at the summit of the Asian para-archery circuit. Defending a title at a continental Games is a feat few athletes achieve; Sheetal has now done it.
Her trajectory has been rapid and remarkable. Recognition under flagship support programmes including the Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017, helped channel dedicated training and competitive exposure to para-athletes like her — infrastructure that has visibly paid dividends on the medal podium.
Why Thakur's voice carries weight here
Anurag Thakur's congratulatory post is not merely ceremonial. As a former minister who oversaw the Youth Affairs and Sports portfolio, he was closely associated with policies that elevated para sports alongside able-bodied competitions. His consistent amplification of para-athlete milestones on social media reflects a deliberate effort — by the political establishment broadly — to normalise and celebrate para excellence in Indian public life.
The pattern is now well established: Indian MPs and ministers routinely use X to give para athletes the same visibility as Olympic champions. For athletes like Sheetal, that spotlight translates into sponsorship interest, grassroots inspiration, and sustained institutional support.
With the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles on the horizon, Sheetal Devi's back-to-back Asian Para Games gold medals mark her as one of India's most compelling medal prospects on the world's biggest para-sporting stage. The bullseye, it seems, is just the beginning.
Point of View
A move with real downstream benefits in sponsorship and grassroots inspiration. The back-to-back gold also sets a high-stakes expectation for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, where para archery could deliver India a landmark moment. How the support infrastructure scales to meet that moment will define whether this is a peak or a launchpad.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sheetal Devi and why is she famous?
Sheetal Devi is an Indian para-archer who competes in the compound category without arms, drawing the bowstring with her feet. She is famous for winning gold medals at the Asian Para Games and is one of India's most celebrated para-athletes.
What did Sheetal Devi win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Sheetal Devi won the Women's Individual Compound gold medal at the Asian Para Games 2026, successfully defending the title she had previously won — earning what has been described as a 'double gold' achievement.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a regional multi-sport event for para athletes organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee, held every four years alongside the Asian Games for able-bodied athletes.
What is the Khelo India scheme and how does it support para athletes?
Khelo India is a flagship government sports development scheme launched in 2017 that includes dedicated support for para-athlete training and competition participation, helping build the pipeline that has produced champions like Sheetal Devi.
Why did Anurag Thakur congratulate Sheetal Devi?
Anurag Thakur, a BJP MP from Hamirpur and former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, posted congratulations on X to celebrate Sheetal Devi's title defence at the Asian Para Games 2026, as part of his continued public support for Indian para-athletes.
