Nadda Congratulates Sheetal Devi & Payal Nag on Para Archery Silver
Synopsis
Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda congratulated para archers Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag on winning the Silver Medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles event at the Asian Para Games 2026, hailing the result as 'a proud silver for Bharat' and calling on them to take Indian para archery to greater heights.
Key Takeaways
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won the Silver Medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles archery event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Union Health Minister J.
Nadda publicly congratulated the duo on October 21, 2026 via X.
Nadda described the achievement as a reflection of the athletes' 'skill, determination and competitive spirit.' The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities across Asia, one of the continent's premier para-sports platforms.
The result reinforces India's growing presence in para archery at the regional level.
Two para archers from India climbed the podium at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda was among the first to mark the moment. On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Nadda took to X to congratulate Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag on winning the Silver Medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles archery event — a result he called 'a proud silver for Bharat.'
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag's Silver at the Asian Para Games 2026
The duo's podium finish in the Para Compound Women's Doubles event adds to India's growing footprint in para archery on the continental stage. Nadda praised their 'skill, determination and competitive spirit,' urging them to 'continue to aim higher and take Indian para archery to even greater heights.'
Sheetal Devi has previously drawn national attention as one of India's most distinctive para archery talents, while Payal Nag brings her own competitive pedigree to the pairing. Together, they represent the depth India is quietly building in adaptive sports disciplines.
India's Para Archery Rise on the Asian Stage
The Asian Para Games — held every four years for athletes with disabilities across the continent — is one of the most competitive proving grounds for para sports outside the Paralympics. India has steadily expanded its para archery squad and medal ambitions at these Games, with government recognition playing a visible role in sustaining athlete morale and public interest.
Senior ministers publicly celebrating para sport results — as Nadda does here — has become a consistent feature of India's sports diplomacy, signalling institutional acknowledgment that goes beyond token gesture and feeds into a broader push to mainstream para athletics in national sporting culture.
A silver medal today; the message from the Health Minister is clear — the ceiling for Indian para archery has not yet been found.
Point of View
And Nadda's congratulatory post fits squarely into that pattern. The gesture is more than ceremonial — sustained high-visibility recognition from the government's health and welfare machinery helps normalise para athletics as mainstream national achievement rather than a footnote. For Sheetal Devi in particular, who has attracted significant public interest in recent years, this kind of institutional affirmation can translate into training support, sponsorship visibility, and broader fan engagement. The steady drumbeat of such recognition, Games after Games, is quietly building a more durable infrastructure of prestige around Indian para sports.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag?
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag are Indian para archers who won the Silver Medal in the Para Compound Women's Doubles event at the Asian Para Games 2026. Sheetal Devi has previously attracted wide national attention as one of India's most distinctive para archery talents.
What event did India win silver in at the Asian Para Games 2026?
India won silver in the Para Compound Women's Doubles archery event at the Asian Para Games 2026, with the pair of Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag representing the country.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities held across Asia. It is one of the most competitive para-sports platforms at the continental level, outside of the Paralympics.
Why did J. P. Nadda congratulate Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag?
As Union Health Minister and a senior government figure, J. P. Nadda congratulated the pair on their Silver Medal at the Asian Para Games 2026, praising their 'skill, determination and competitive spirit' and encouraging them to aim for greater heights in para archery.
How is India performing in para archery at the Asian Para Games?
India has been steadily building its presence in para archery at the Asian Para Games, with the silver medal by Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag in the Para Compound Women's Doubles at the 2026 edition reflecting the country's growing competitive depth in the discipline.
