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Payal Nag wins her first senior gold, defeating world champion Sheetal Devi in an all-Indian final at the Bangkok Para Archery Series.
Indian archer Payal Nag (X/WorldArchery)
A new star has risen in Indian para archery, and she’s done it by dethroning the very best.
India’s Payal Nag stunned reigning world champion Sheetal Devi to clinch Gold in the Women’s Compound final at the Bangkok Archery Para Series 2026 on Saturday.
In a high-quality all-Indian final, the 18-year-old Payal held her nerve to secure a 139–136 victory, earning her first senior international gold medal in the process.
The result is all the more remarkable given 19-year-old Sheetal’s recent dominance, who has been in sublime form, even being named World Archery’s Para Archer of the Year after a sensational 2025 season. She carried that momentum into Bangkok, topping the qualification round with a stunning 698 (25X), finishing a full 20 points clear of Kazakhstan’s Zhanat Aitimova. Payal, meanwhile, qualified third with 678 (9X).
Both archers navigated their way through the knockout rounds with confidence. Sheetal defeated Singapore’s Nur Shahyidah Alim 147–142 in the semifinal, while Payal edged Aitimova 144–140, setting up a blockbuster final.
When it mattered most, however, it was Payal who stepped up, delivering under pressure to claim the biggest win of her career so far.
India’s Exploits So Far
India’s dominance in Bangkok wasn’t limited to the women’s compound final.
In the men’s compound individual event, Shyam Sunder Swami secured bronze after narrowly defeating senior teammate Rakesh Kumar in a dramatic shoot-off. Both archers were tied at 143, but Swami edged it 10* to 9 in the tiebreaker.
Elsewhere, Anjum Tanwar finished fourth in the W1 women’s category after falling 2–6 in her bronze medal match against a Korean opponent.
What’s Next
Payal and Sheetal will combine forces in the women’s compound team final against Kazakhstan, while Sheetal and Toman Kumar are set to contest the mixed team gold against Indonesia.
April 04, 2026, 4:22 pm IST
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