Nadda Hails Sheetal Devi, Toman Kumar's Para Archery Gold
Synopsis
Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar won India's first-ever Para Archery gold at the Asian Para Games 2026, defeating Indonesia 151-148 in the Para Compound Mixed Team final. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda hailed the win, noting Sheetal's title defence and wishing both athletes well in their individual events.
Key Takeaways
Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar won gold in the Para Compound Mixed Team event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
India defeated Indonesia 151–148 in the final.
This is India's first Para Archery gold at the Asian Para Games.
The win marks a title defence for Sheetal Devi in the mixed team event.
Union Health Minister J.
Nadda extended congratulations via a post on X on October 22, 2026 .
Both athletes are set to compete in their individual events at the same Games.
India's para archers delivered a golden finish at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and it came with history attached. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda on Thursday, October 22 congratulated Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar on clinching gold in the Para Compound Mixed Team event, with India defeating Indonesia 151–148 in what Nadda described as a 'thrilling final.'
India's first Para Archery gold at these Games
The win is more than a podium finish — it is a landmark. Nadda noted that this is India's first Para Archery gold at the Asian Para Games, making the 151–148 scoreline over Indonesia all the more resonant. Precision sports have been a quietly growing front for India's para contingent across successive editions of the Games, and this result marks a clear step up in standing.
For Sheetal Devi, the gold carries additional weight: Nadda specifically flagged her 'successful title defence,' meaning the compound mixed team event now has an Indian stamp on back-to-back cycles. At a young age, Sheetal has already built a reputation as one of India's most compelling para-sport stories — a compound archer who competes without the use of her arms, drawing the bow with her feet and chin, a technique that has stunned international circuits.
Toman Kumar's rise alongside Sheetal
Standing beside Sheetal in this gold-medal moment is Toman Kumar, her mixed team partner. While Sheetal's profile has attracted wider international attention, the partnership between the two reflects the depth India is building in compound archery. A three-point margin over Indonesia — a nation with serious para archery credentials in the Asian circuit — signals that India's pair was not merely competitive; they were dominant when it mattered.
Eyes now on individual events
Nadda closed his message by wishing both athletes well 'for their upcoming individual events' — a reminder that the campaign is far from over. With team gold already secured, Sheetal and Toman will now carry elevated expectations into their solo rounds. India's final medal tally at the 2026 Asian Para Games is still being written, and archery just gave it a golden opening line.
A minister's congratulatory post is routine after major para-sport wins — but a first-ever gold in an event, defended by the same athlete, is the kind of milestone that outlasts the ceremony.
Point of View
Multi-cycle effort to expand the country's para-sport footprint beyond track and field. Senior ministerial congratulations, increasingly rapid and prominent after para-sport wins, reflect a political recognition that para athletics carries significant soft-power and welfare-policy messaging. Sheetal Devi's title defence in particular signals programme continuity, not a one-off peak. The broader arc to watch: whether India can convert this archery breakthrough into a structural pipeline of para archery medals at the Paralympic level.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar?
Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar are Indian para archers who compete in compound events. Sheetal is known for her technique of drawing the bow without the use of her arms and has won international titles. Toman Kumar is her partner in the mixed team event.
What did India win at the Asian Para Games 2026 in archery?
India won gold in the Para Compound Mixed Team archery event at the Asian Para Games 2026, defeating Indonesia 151-148. It is India's first Para Archery gold at the Asian Para Games.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for para athletes from across Asia, held separately from the Asian Games. India has been a regular and growing participant across successive editions.
Did Sheetal Devi defend her title at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Yes, according to Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda's post, the gold at Asian Para Games 2026 represents a successful title defence for Sheetal Devi in the Para Compound Mixed Team event.
What events will Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar compete in next at Asian Para Games 2026?
Both Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar are set to participate in their individual compound archery events at the Asian Para Games 2026 after their team gold win.
