An archer without arms, shooting into history. Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi set an Asian record and equalled the world record in the women's compound qualification round at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was among the first leaders to mark the moment on Monday, October 19, 2026.

Posting on X, CM Choudhary offered his congratulations in effusive terms: 'अद्वितीय प्रतिभा, दृढ़ संकल्प और ऐतिहासिक उपलब्धि' — 'unparalleled talent, firm resolve and a historic achievement.' He noted that Sheetal Devi scored 704 points in the qualification round to set the Asian record and match the world record, calling her feat 'a proud symbol of Indian sporting talent, confidence and excellence.'

704 Points That Rewrote the Record Books

The women's compound qualification round became a landmark moment the instant Sheetal Devi's score of 704 was confirmed. Setting an Asian record while simultaneously equalling the world record in a single competitive round is a rare double — the kind of performance that shifts the conversation from 'promising para athlete' to 'global standard-setter.' The Aichi-Nagoya Games, hosted across the Aichi prefecture region of Japan, provided the stage; Sheetal Devi provided the story.

Sheetal Devi's Rise in Indian Para Archery

Sheetal Devi has become one of the most recognisable names in Indian para sports. Born without arms, she competes using her feet and shoulders to draw and release the bowstring — a technique that has not held her back from the sport's highest levels. Her trajectory through international para archery events has been steep and swift, drawing sustained attention from sports administrators and political leaders alike as a symbol of what Indian para sport can achieve when athletes are given resources and competitive exposure.

A Pattern of Political Spotlight on Para Excellence

CM Choudhary's post is part of a broader, deliberate pattern: Indian political leaders at both state and national levels have increasingly used social media to spotlight para athletes' achievements, framing them as expressions of national pride and as evidence that inclusivity in sport is a policy priority. The gesture carries symbolic weight — visibility from senior political figures translates, over time, into institutional attention for funding, infrastructure, and recognition frameworks for para disciplines. Choudhary closed his post with best wishes for Sheetal Devi's remaining bouts at the Games, urging her to win further glory for India.