CM Majhi Hails Sheetal Devi & Payal Nag's Para Archery Silver
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi has congratulated para archers Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag on clinching silver in the Women's Compound Doubles at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, celebrating the win as a triumph of resilience and Nari Shakti.
Key Takeaways
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won the Silver Medal in Women's Compound Doubles para archery at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
The games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Payal Nag is from Odisha , making this a point of particular pride for the state.
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi publicly celebrated the result on October 21, 2026 .
Majhi highlighted 'determination, resilience, and Nari Shakti ' as the driving force behind the victory.
Odisha has been actively investing in sports development, and this medal reinforces that identity on the Asian stage.
A silver arrow from Aichi-Nagoya. Indian para archers Sheetal Devi and Odisha's Payal Nag claimed the Silver Medal in the Women's Compound Doubles event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan — and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was among the first to celebrate the achievement on Wednesday, October 21.
Majhi posted his congratulations on X, calling it 'a proud moment for India and Odisha' and saluting what he described as 'the power of determination, resilience, and Nari Shakti' — a widely-used phrase meaning women's power. 'Wishing both champions greater success ahead,' he added.
Payal Nag's medal puts Odisha on the para-archery map
Payal Nag, who represents Odisha on the national and international para-archery circuit, has now brought the state a podium finish at Asia's premier para-sports competition. Odisha has invested heavily in sports infrastructure in recent years and has positioned itself as a hub for both able-bodied and para athletes. A medal at the Asian Para Games adds concrete weight to that ambition.
Sheetal Devi — from national sensation to Asian Para Games medallist
Sheetal Devi is one of India's most recognised para archers, competing in compound events at the international level. Her partnership with Nag in the Women's Compound Doubles delivered a result that adds to India's growing para-sports medal haul on the continental stage. The Asian Para Games are a multi-sport continental event for athletes with disabilities, and a silver here carries real Olympic-qualification resonance for the road to future Paralympic cycles.
Nari Shakti on the world stage
Majhi's invocation of Nari Shakti is deliberate and familiar — Indian leaders across the political spectrum routinely frame women's sporting victories within this national narrative. But the phrase lands differently when the athletes are para-sportswomen competing on an international stage, turning what could be a ceremonial congratulation into a signal about how India chooses to spotlight its most determined competitors. Both women now return home as Asian Para Games silver medallists — a title no congratulatory post can diminish.
Point of View
And Asian Para Games medals now feed directly into Paralympic qualification conversations. Odisha, which has made sports infrastructure a signature policy priority, benefits doubly when a para athlete from the state medals abroad. The invocation of Nari Shakti frames this as more than a podium moment — it slots neatly into a national narrative that is increasingly using women's sports achievements as proof of policy intent.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag?
Sheetal Devi is a prominent Indian para archer who competes in compound events at the international level. Payal Nag is a para archer from Odisha who represents India in national and international competitions.
What medal did Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag win at Asian Para Games 2026?
They won the Silver Medal in the Women's Compound Doubles para archery event at the Asian Para Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Where are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Why did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi congratulate the archers?
CM Majhi congratulated both athletes because Payal Nag is from Odisha, and the silver medal represents a significant international achievement for the state's para-sports programme.
What is Nari Shakti and why did CM Majhi mention it?
Nari Shakti means 'women's power' in Hindi. CM Majhi used the term to frame the victory as a symbol of women's determination and resilience, a recurring theme in Indian political discourse around women's achievements in sport.
