Puri hails Sheetal Devi & Payal Nag's Para Archery Silver
Synopsis
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri congratulated archers Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag on winning the Silver Medal in Para Compound Women's Doubles at the Asian Para Games 2026, tagging the Paralympic Committee of India in his post.
Key Takeaways
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won the Silver Medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri publicly congratulated the duo on 21 October 2026 via X.
The post was tagged to the Paralympic Committee of India and sports body @pspbmedia , amplifying official recognition.
Sheetal Devi is one of India's most prominent para archers, known for competing without forearms by drawing the bow with her feet.
The result highlights India's growing competitive depth in para compound archery at multi-sport Asian events.
Two Indian archers etched their names into the Asian Para Games 2026 record books on Wednesday, 21 October — and the congratulations came swiftly from the highest levels of government. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri took to X to celebrate Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag after the pair clinched the Silver Medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles event.
Puri's post, tagged to the Paralympic Committee of India (@PCI_IN_Official) and sports body @pspbmedia, read: 'Heartiest congratulations to champions Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag on clinching the Silver Medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles at the Asian Para Games 2026.' The tone was warm and unambiguous — two athletes, one medal, and a government that noticed.
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag's compound archery silver
Sheetal Devi has steadily become one of India's most recognisable para athletes in compound archery, competing at the elite level despite being born without forearms — she draws the bowstring with her feet, a technique that has drawn global attention. Payal Nag joins her in the doubles pair, completing a combination that reached the podium at these Games. The Para Compound Women's Doubles category tests both precision and synchronisation, making their silver all the more meaningful.
India's rising footprint in para archery
The Paralympic Committee of India, the national body governing para sports participation, has steadily expanded India's footprint across multi-sport para events. Compound archery in particular has seen growing visibility at the Asian Para Games over successive editions, with India fielding increasingly competitive squads. A silver medal in the doubles event underlines the depth that Indian para archery has developed beyond individual competition.
Union ministers across portfolios have made a consistent practice of publicly acknowledging para athlete achievements on social media — a visible signal of the broader mainstreaming of para sports within India's national sporting conversation. For Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag, the silver is a statement that lands far beyond the archery range.
India's contingent at the Asian Para Games 2026 will be watched closely for further medal additions as the multi-sport event continues.
Point of View
Not just personal goodwill. Compound archery, once a niche discipline, is fast becoming a flagship event in India's para sports identity, anchored by athletes like Sheetal Devi. As the Asian Para Games 2026 medal tally builds, such ministerial visibility feeds a larger narrative of para sports mainstreaming that the government has invested in over the past several years.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag?
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag are Indian para compound archers who won the Silver Medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles event at the Asian Para Games 2026. Sheetal Devi is particularly well known for competing without forearms, drawing the bowstring with her feet.
What medal did India win in para archery at Asian Para Games 2026?
India won the Silver Medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles event at the Asian Para Games 2026, with the pair of Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag representing the country.
What is the Paralympic Committee of India?
The Paralympic Committee of India is the national body responsible for governing and managing Indian para athletes' participation in multi-sport para events, including the Asian Para Games and the Paralympic Games.
Why did Hardeep Singh Puri congratulate para archers?
As a senior Union Minister and BJP leader, Hardeep Singh Puri congratulated Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag on their Silver Medal win at the Asian Para Games 2026 — consistent with a broader government practice of publicly acknowledging para sports achievements on social media.
Where are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The specific host city for the Asian Para Games 2026 has not been confirmed in the available information, but the Games are an official multi-sport para event held across Asia under the auspices of the Asian Paralympic Committee.
