02/01/2026
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Jammu and Kashmirâs armless archer and Paralympics medallist Sheetal Devi edged out quadruple-amputee Payal Nag of Odisha to win the gold medal in a much-anticipated clash at the Khelo India Para Games on Sunday.
In this high-profile battle between two teenage talents, defending champion Sheetal Devi (18) came from behind to secure her second gold medal of the Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Facing 17-year-old Payal Nag, Sheetal triumphed 109â103 in a closely contested match.
Payal, who lost all four limbs due to electrocution during childhood, competes using prosthetic legs and shoots with the help of special support devices. Despite her challenges, she displayed remarkable precision throughout the Games.
The bright sunny conditions in New Delhi did not deter the spirit of the athletes. In other events, 40-year-old Rakesh Kumar and 30-year-old Pooja delivered strong performances for their respective categories, while Haryanaâs Pooja earned another medal for her state.
The turning point of the match came in the third round, where Payalâwho had been leadingâshot a 7 for the first time. Sheetal responded with her trademark consistency, landing back-to-back 10s. In the decisive fifth round, Sheetal maintained her form to clinch victory.
âI shoot my arrows using two devices attached to my prosthetic legs. I had some difficulty adjusting today, and the windy conditions made it harder. But Iâm happy that I reached the final and won the silver medal,â Payal said after the match.
According to her coach Kuldeep Vedwan, Payal recently received a new shooting device, and they are confident it will help her deliver even stronger performances in future competitions.
