The Hyundai World Archery Para Series arrives on Indian soil for the first time as Ahmedabad prepares to host more than 100 para-athletes from 20 countries at the Sabarmati Riverfront from 5 to 9 September. The event marks a landmark moment for para-archery in India, bringing a top-tier international competition to Gujarat for the first time.

Stage Three of a Global Circuit

The Ahmedabad leg is the third stage of the 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series, following the opening stage in Bangkok in April and the second stage in Nove Mesto, Czechia, from 30 June to 4 July. The fourth and final stage is scheduled for Santiago, Chile, in October. India's inclusion in this circuit places it alongside established host nations on a genuinely global sporting calendar.

The tournament will be formally inaugurated on 4 September and is organised by the Archery Association of India (AAI) with support from the Gujarat government, the Sports Authority of Gujarat, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Competition Format and Participating Nations

Athletes will compete across four categories: Recurve Open, Compound Open, W1, and Visually Impaired. The 20 participating countries include India, China, Great Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Slovakia, the United States, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cyprus, Czechia, Iraq, the Russian Federation, and Sri Lanka.

India's Star-Studded Para Archery Squad

India will field a 29-member squad that includes some of the country's most decorated para-athletes. Harvinder Singh, who claimed gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, headlines the contingent alongside Sheetal Devi, a world para archery champion and Paralympic medallist. Rakesh Kumar, an Arjuna Awardee and World Para Archery medallist, and Paralympian Shyam Sunder Swami are also part of the squad.

The squad has been preparing at SAI's National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar. Notably, 11 members of the squad have also been selected for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, underlining the depth of India's para-archery pipeline.

What Officials Said

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the event would provide para-athletes a platform to compete internationally while reinforcing the state's credentials as a major sporting destination. The opening ceremony, he noted, is themed 'every arrow tells a story of courage' — a tribute to the resilience of para-athletes.

AAI President Arjun Munda described the hosting as 'a matter of great pride,' adding that bringing the world's best para archers to India would 'inspire a new generation of athletes.' AAI Secretary General Virendra Sachdeva said the event would strengthen the para-archery ecosystem by uniting athletes, coaches, and members of the international archery community on Indian soil.

Gujarat's Expanding Sporting Profile

The Ahmedabad event is the latest in a series of high-profile international sporting competitions that Gujarat has hosted in recent years. Officials have consistently positioned the state as a preferred venue for global events, and the Sabarmati Riverfront setting adds a distinctive backdrop to what is already a milestone occasion for Indian para-sport. With the 2026 Asian Games squad also in preparation, the timing could not be more significant for India's para-archery ambitions.