Indian para-archers Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar created history at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan on Monday, October 19, by setting a new world record in the compound mixed team qualification round. The pair scored a combined 1,402 points, surpassing the previous world record of 1,400 points set by Devi and Rakesh Kumar at the World Archery Para Series in Ahmedabad in September 2026.
Devi also equalled the women’s individual compound world record with a score of 704 out of 720, establishing a new Asian record in the process. The performances secured the Indian duo the top seed in the mixed team event and strengthened the country’s medal prospects at the continental competition. The achievements underline India’s growing presence in para archery, with athletes continuing to challenge established records through consistent training, technical skill and determination.
A Record-Breaking Performance
The historic performance took place at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square in Japan, where the para archery qualification rounds of the fifth Asian Para Games began on October 19. Devi scored 704 points in the women’s compound qualification round, while Toman Kumar contributed 698 points in the men’s event. Their combined tally of 1,402 points surpassed the previous mixed team world record by two points, setting a new benchmark for the discipline.
The earlier record of 1,400 points had been established by Devi and experienced para-archer Rakesh Kumar during the World Archery Para Series in Ahmedabad on September 6. That performance had improved their own previous record of 1,399 points, set at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, by one point. Devi’s individual performance was equally significant. Her score of 704 equalled the existing women’s compound world record set by Türkiye’s Oznur Girdi at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, while improving Devi’s previous Asian record of 698 by six points. She produced an exceptional display of accuracy, recording 57 arrows in the 10-point scoring zone, including 32 in the innermost X-ring.
These results placed her at the top of the women’s compound qualification standings, while Kumar finished third in the men’s standings with 698 points. The Indian pair’s combined performance earned them the top seed for the mixed team competition, placing them among the leading contenders as the Games progress towards the medal rounds.
Building On Past Success
The latest records add to Devi’s growing list of achievements in international para archery. The 19-year-old archer from Jammu and Kashmir, who was born without arms, uses her feet and shoulders to handle the bow and release arrows. Her distinctive technique, developed through sustained training, has helped her establish herself among the leading athletes in the sport.
At the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games, Devi won two gold medals and one silver, announcing her arrival on the international stage. She subsequently secured a bronze medal in the mixed team event alongside Rakesh Kumar at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. In 2025, she also won an individual world title, further strengthening her reputation as one of India’s leading para-athletes. Kumar, meanwhile, is the reigning world champion in compound men’s archery.
A former Indian Army commando from Chhattisgarh, he lost a leg in a blast during a counter-insurgency operation and later took up archery during his recovery. His rise in the sport has seen him establish himself among the world’s leading para-archers. The partnership between Devi and Kumar at the ongoing Asian Para Games builds on India’s success in international para archery, even as the mixed team world record previously belonged to Devi and Rakesh Kumar.
According to World Archery, the Ahmedabad event in September marked India’s first time hosting an international World Archery Para Series competition, offering domestic athletes an opportunity to compete on home soil ahead of the continental Games. The Asian Para Games, being held in Aichi-Nagoya from October 18 to 24, bring together athletes from across Asia to compete in multiple sports. India’s archery contingent includes established champions as well as emerging talent such as Payal Nag, who has also made a mark in compound archery. The latest qualification results provide India with a strong start, although the final medal outcomes will depend on performances in the subsequent elimination rounds and finals.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar’s record-breaking achievement is a reminder that sporting excellence is built on persistence, opportunity, access and the willingness to keep improving. Devi’s journey challenges narrow assumptions about disability, while Kumar’s return to sport after a life-changing injury highlights the importance of rehabilitation and support systems that help people rebuild their lives.
However, celebrating individual determination must go hand in hand with creating an environment in which para-athletes receive equal access to training facilities, coaching, equipment, financial support and recognition. Their accomplishments should also encourage schools, sports institutions and policymakers to make sporting opportunities more accessible to people with disabilities, rather than treating inclusion as an occasional initiative. Records and medals bring visibility, but lasting progress depends on ensuring that athletes are valued for their skills and achievements, not defined by their disabilities or personal struggles.
As India celebrates this historic performance, how can we turn such moments of sporting inspiration into meaningful, long-term support for para-athletes across the country?
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RECORD-BREAKING TRIUMPH! A sensational performance on the grand stage. Team India, comprising TOPS athletes Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar, finished 1st with a massive combined score of 1402 (Sheetal: 702; Toman: 698), shattering their own previous World and Asian Record of 1400 set on 5 Sep 2026 in Ahmedabad to set brand new World, Asian & Games Records! After receiving a bye in the elimination round, they advanced straight to the Quarterfinals scheduled for 20 October from 8:45 AM IST onwards. A proud moment for the nation as our champions continue their stellar campaign! #AsianParaGames2026 #ParaArchery #TeamIndia #Cheer4Bharat #Praise4Para
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) October 19, 2026
