Mandaviya hails Sheetal Devi & Toman Kumar's Para Archery Gold
Synopsis
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated para archers Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar for winning gold in the Para Compound Mixed Team Final at the Asian Para Games 2026, spotlighting India's expanding continental para sports success.
Key Takeaways
Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar won gold in the Para Compound Mixed Team Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the duo on October 22, 2026 , via X.
The win adds to India's growing medal tally at continental para sports events.
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) has supported para athletes since 2014 , expanding funding and international exposure.
The result builds momentum ahead of the 2028 Paralympics , where compound archery qualification rankings will matter.
A gold medal in para archery — and a nation stops to cheer. Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday, October 22, 2026, congratulated Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar for clinching the top podium spot in the Para Compound Mixed Team Final at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Posting on X with the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat, Mandaviya wrote: 'Heartiest congratulations to Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar on clinching Gold in the Para Compound Mixed Team Final at the Asian Para Games 2026.' The message underlined the government's practice of spotlighting individual para athletes to build wider public engagement with disability sports in India.
Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar: the compound pair that delivered
The Para Compound Mixed Team event demands near-perfect synchrony — two athletes, one shared scoreline, and no margin for error under pressure. Sheetal Devi has been one of India's most celebrated para archers in recent seasons, having gained national attention for her extraordinary technique despite being born without forearms. Toman Kumar partnered her in the mixed team format, and together they crossed the finish line with gold at the continental stage — a result that adds to India's growing continental haul in para archery.India's rising arc in para sports
This win does not exist in isolation. Over the past decade, India has recorded a steady climb in both para sports participation and medal tallies at continental events. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has channelled increased funding into disability sports infrastructure, international exposure camps, and athlete support through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which was expanded to cover para athletes from 2014 onwards. Ministerial visibility — posts like Mandaviya's today — forms a deliberate part of that ecosystem, turning individual victories into national moments. With the 2028 Paralympics on the horizon, performances at the Asian Para Games carry direct weight: they shape rankings, qualification pathways, and the confidence of a generation of para athletes watching from across India. One gold medal. Two athletes. And a signal that India's para archery story is far from its final chapter.Point of View
Especially in the para sports space where public awareness has historically lagged. The shoutout also signals continued political investment in disability sports ahead of the 2028 Paralympics, where India is under pressure to better its previous medal count. For para athletes like Sheetal Devi, that visibility is both recognition and leverage for future funding.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar?
Sheetal Devi is one of India's most prominent para archers, known for her exceptional technique. Toman Kumar is her partner in the Para Compound Mixed Team event. Together they won gold at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a regional multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee every four years, featuring nations from across the Asian continent.
What did India win at the Asian Para Games 2026 in archery?
India won the gold medal in the Para Compound Mixed Team Final through the pairing of Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar .
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) is a government programme under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports that provides financial and logistical support to elite athletes, including para athletes, targeting major international events like the Olympics and Paralympics.
Why did Minister Mandaviya post about this win?
As Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports , Mansukh Mandaviya routinely highlights individual Indian victories at international events to build public engagement with sports and signal government support for athletes.
