Teenage quadruple amputee archer Payal Nag pulled off an impressive upset by defeating her World No. 1 teammate Sheetal Devi and winning gold. This victory highlighted India’s strong performance at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok, where the country topped the medal tally with seven golds.
Payal Nag Upsets Sheetal Devi for gold
The 18-year-old rising star won 139-136 in the compound women’s final, wrapping up a memorable event as India finished with 13 medals, including three silver and three bronze.
This was Payal’s second win over Sheetal in just over a year, having previously defeated her at the Para Nationals in Jaipur in January 2025. Competing in her second international event after debuting at the Dubai 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, Payal showed remarkable calm under pressure to surpass her more accomplished peer.
A Look at your inspiring journey
Payal Nag started strong with a perfect 10, winning the opening end 27-25. Sheetal then fought back to tie the match. After both competitors scored 54 in the second end, Payal raised her performance in the third, scoring two 9s and a 10 to take the lead, 82-80. She sealed the match with a strong final end that included two 10s.
Discovered by Sheetal’s childhood coach, Kuldeep Vedwan, Payal’s journey has been truly inspiring. As the daughter of a migrant laborer from Odisha’s Balangir district, she lost all four limbs after touching a live wire at a brick kiln in 2015.
Read also: Senior Congress Leaders Contradict Rahul Gandhi on Iran War and LPG Supply Crisis