Asian Para Games 2026: Sheetal Devi Equals World Record with Historic 704 in Compound Archery

India’s Sheetal Devi produced a landmark performance at the Asian Para Games 2026, scoring 704 out of a possible 720 points in the women’s compound archery qualification round to equal the world record and establish a new Asian record. 

The Indian para-archer delivered an exceptional display of precision on the opening day of the competition, placing herself at the top of the qualification standings.

Sheetal’s score surpassed the previous Asian record of 698 by six points, underlining the scale of her achievement. Her performance also equalled the world-record mark, adding another milestone to the career of one of India’s most prominent para-archers.

The result provided an emphatic start to India’s campaign in para archery, with the country’s compound archers producing strong performances across the qualification rounds.

A score of 704 from 720 points represents an outstanding level of consistency in compound archery, where every arrow can influence an athlete’s final position. Sheetal maintained the accuracy required to finish at the top of the women’s compound qualification standings while rewriting the Asian record.

The previous continental benchmark stood at 698 points. By recording 704, Sheetal improved that mark by six points and equalled the world record, making her performance one of the standout moments of the opening day.

Qualification rounds determine the rankings and seedings for the subsequent stages of the competition. Finishing at the top gives Sheetal a strong platform as she moves towards the elimination rounds, where she will aim to carry her precision into head-to-head competition.

Her achievement is particularly significant given the demands of para archery. Born without arms, Sheetal has developed a highly specialised technique, using her feet to handle and shoot the bow. Her performances have demonstrated the technical skill, concentration and repeated accuracy required to compete at the highest level.

The record-equalling score in the Asian Para Games adds to her growing reputation as a leading figure in the sport and gives India a major early highlight at the continental event.

Payal Nag adds to India’s strong showing

Sheetal was not the only Indian to make an impression in the women’s compound qualification round. Payal Nag also produced a competitive performance, recording 675 points and placing joint fifth in the qualification standings, according to the reported results.

The result gave India two archers in prominent positions as the field prepared for the next stages of the tournament. While Sheetal led the standings with a record-equalling score, Nag’s performance ensured that India had another competitor positioned to challenge in the elimination rounds.

The qualification results are important because they establish the order for the knockout stages, where archers must maintain their accuracy under the pressure of direct competition. Sheetal will enter that phase with the advantage of having set the pace in qualification, while Nag will look to build on her position and progress further.

India’s strong showing in the compound events offered encouragement for the wider para-archery campaign.

The opening-day performances extended beyond the women’s compound event. The reported results indicated that Indian compound archers finished at the top of both the men’s and women’s standings, while Swati also finished first in the W1 category.

These results suggested a productive start for India across multiple para-archery classifications. Each category presents distinct technical demands, but all require accuracy, concentration and the ability to repeat high-quality shots across the qualification round.

Having athletes at the top of the standings in several categories provides India with a strong base heading into the elimination stages. However, qualification rankings alone do not determine medal outcomes, and the archers will need to maintain their performances as the competition progresses.

For Sheetal, the immediate challenge will be to translate her record-equalling qualification score into success in the knockout rounds. Her position at the top gives her a strong starting point, but the decisive matches will test her ability to reproduce that precision under direct competitive pressure.

Sheetal’s 704-point performance is a significant achievement for Indian sport. By equalling the world record and setting a new Asian record, she has delivered a memorable result at the Asian Para Games 2026 and placed herself firmly among the leading contenders in the women’s compound event.

The six-point improvement over the previous Asian record highlights the quality of her performance, while Nag’s score of 675 and India’s reported top finishes in other categories added to the encouraging start.

Beyond the numbers, Sheetal’s journey continues to draw attention to the skill and adaptability required in para sport. Her achievements are built on technical precision and sustained training, demonstrating that elite performance depends on developing techniques suited to an athlete’s individual abilities.

India will now look to carry this momentum into the elimination rounds. Sheetal has already created one of the opening day’s defining moments; the next objective will be to turn that record-equalling performance into a successful run through the competition.

For Indian para archery, the message from the qualification round is clear: Sheetal Devi has set an exceptional standard, and the team has begun its campaign with results that offer genuine encouragement for the days ahead.