Sheetal-Toman clinch compound mixed team gold at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Sheetal Devil and Toman Kumar did not just win gold at the Asian Para Games — they rewrote the record books. The 18-year-old Sheetal matched the individual world record, broke Asian and Games records, and combined with Toman to set a new world record of 1402 in mixed team qualification, before sealing a 151–148 win over Indonesia. It is already Sheetal's second medal of the Aichi-Nagoya campaign.
Key Takeaways
Sheetal Devil and Toman Kumar won compound mixed team gold at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 22 October .
India defeated Indonesia 151–148 — the country's first archery gold of these Games.
The duo set a new world record of 1402 points in mixed team qualification, breaking their own previous mark of 1400.
Sheetal individually posted 704 out of 720 , matching the individual world record and raising the Asian Para Games record from 680 to 704 .
This is Sheetal's second medal at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, having earlier won silver with Payal Nag in compound women's doubles.
Toman Kumar is the reigning world champion and world No.
1 in men's compound individual.
Sheetal Devil and Toman Kumar, the reigning world champions and world number ones in their respective classifications, claimed gold in the Compound Mixed Team event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan on Thursday, 22 October. The Indian duo defeated Indonesia by a margin of 151–148, handing India its first archery gold of the ongoing edition of the Games.
A Record-Breaking Campaign in Nagoya
The day's triumph came on the back of an extraordinary qualification round. Sheetal and Toman Kumar combined for 1402 points in the mixed team qualification, shattering the previous world record of 1400 — a mark also set by India. Individually, the 18-year-old Sheetal posted 704 points out of a possible 720, matching the world record held by Türkiye's Oznur Cure Girdi. She simultaneously improved her own Asian record of 698 — set in Bangkok in March — by six points, and raised the Asian Para Games record from 680 to 704.
Sheetal's Second Medal at Aichi-Nagoya 2026
This gold is Sheetal's second medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Earlier in the campaign, she had partnered with quadruple-amputee archer Payal Nag in the compound women's doubles, where the pair's combined qualification score of 1379 set new Asian and Games records, surpassing the previous Asian mark of 1378. Payal contributed 675 points to top the women's doubles ranking, with the partnership ultimately earning a silver medal.
Sheetal Devil: A Career Already Defining Para-Archery
Despite her age, Sheetal has amassed a formidable international record. She won gold in the compound individual women's event at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and followed that with a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Her current world champion status and world number one ranking make her one of the most decorated young para-archers in the sport's history. She also entered the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games on a high note, equalling the world record in compound women's qualification on the opening day of competition.
Toman Kumar: World Champion and World No. 1
Toman Kumar brings complementary pedigree to the partnership. A world champion in the men's compound individual category, he holds the world number one ranking in his classification. His steady contributions in the mixed team qualification were central to the record-breaking total of 1402 points.
What This Means for India at the Asian Para Games
The compound mixed team gold is a landmark result for Indian para-archery at a Games where records have been falling steadily in Okazaki. This is the third major record — Asian, Games, and world — associated with Sheetal's campaign in Nagoya alone. India's archery contingent has now placed itself firmly among the sport's global elite, and further medal contention remains possible as the Games continue.
Point of View
A Hangzhou gold, world champion status, and multiple world records before most athletes reach their peak. What is striking is the consistency: every major tournament yields a new record floor, not just a podium. The real story here is structural — Indian para-archery has built genuine depth, with Payal Nag's quadruple-amputee silver run alongside Sheetal showing that this is a programme, not a single prodigy. The question for selectors and the Sports Authority of India is whether the infrastructure investment matches the talent pipeline that has clearly arrived.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the compound mixed team gold at the Asian Para Games 2026?
India's Sheetal Devil and Toman Kumar won the compound mixed team gold at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 22 October, defeating Indonesia 151–148. It was India's first archery gold at these Games.
Did Sheetal Devil set a world record at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Yes. Sheetal posted 704 out of 720 in individual qualification, matching the world record held by Türkiye's Oznur Cure Girdi and raising the Asian Para Games record from 680 to 704. She and Toman Kumar also combined for a new mixed team world record of 1402 points in qualification.
How many medals has Sheetal Devil won at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games?
Sheetal has won two medals at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games — a silver in compound women's doubles alongside Payal Nag and a gold in compound mixed team with Toman Kumar.
What is Sheetal Devil's international record before these Games?
Sheetal won gold at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, claimed a bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, and holds world champion status along with the world number one ranking in women's compound para-archery.
