India won another gold at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games as archer Sheetal Devi beat Singapore's Nur Syahidah Alim in the final of the compound category at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose square on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Sheetal won 142-139 to pick up her second gold medal of the day. Hours earlier, she teamed up with Toman Kumar to pick up her first in the compound mixed team event. The duo got the better of Indonesia’s Teodara Audi Ayudia and Ken Swagumilang 151-148.
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Alim, who had lost the previous edition's final [Hangzhou 2023] by two points, raced to a four-point lead after the opening two ends of six arrows each. But the Indian sensation produced an incredible turnaround, reeling off six 10s, including three Xs -- arrows landing closest to the centre of the target -- across the next two ends to snatch a two-point lead going into the final end of three arrows.
With the gold at stake, Sheetal held her nerve, shooting three 9s for a total of 27 points in the final end. Under pressure, Alim managed only 26, with scores of 9, 8 and 9, allowing the Indian to seal another memorable victory.
{{/usCountry}}With the gold at stake, Sheetal held her nerve, shooting three 9s for a total of 27 points in the final end. Under pressure, Alim managed only 26, with scores of 9, 8 and 9, allowing the Indian to seal another memorable victory.
{{/usCountry}}On Wednesday, Sheetal started her 2026 campaign with a silver with Payal Nag in the women's compound doubles event, losing to China's Xueqing Xu and Jing Zhao 150-141.
Born in Jammu and Kashmir, Sheetal is an accomplished archer. She won the Arjuna Award in 2023. In the previous Asian Para Games at Hangzhou (China), she had picked up two gold and one silver. Her bronze in the 2024 Paralympics in the mixed team event is her biggest success to date.
India's medal count has now gone up to 73 that includes 17 gold, 22 silver and 34 bronze.
(With inputs from PTI)