India’s para archers delivered a memorable performance at the 2026 Asian Para Games on Thursday, with Swati Chaudhary creating history by winning silver in the women’s W1 individual event. While Swati narrowly missed out on gold, Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar teamed up to win the country’s first archery gold medal at the Games.

Swati’s silver is particularly significant because it is India’s first-ever medal in the W1 archery category at the Asian Para Games. The Indian archer fought hard in the final against China’s Cen Mengkan but eventually lost 4-6 after surrendering an early advantage.

The result added another achievement to India’s growing record in para sports and highlighted the progress of Indian athletes competing against some of Asia’s leading archers.

Swati entered the women’s W1 final in Nagoya, Japan, as the top seed and began confidently against Cen. She won the opening set 25-17 after the Chinese archer missed the target with one of her arrows, taking an early 2-0 lead in the set-point format.

Cen responded in the second set, edging Swati 22-21 to level the contest at 2-2. The Indian recovered in the third set, winning it 22-21 after Cen struggled with her accuracy. Swati moved ahead 4-2 and was just one set away from claiming the gold medal.

However, the contest changed dramatically in the fourth set. Cen produced an outstanding series of shots, scoring a perfect 30, including three 10s. Swati managed 20, allowing the Chinese archer to level the match at 4-4.

With the title at stake, Cen maintained her composure in the deciding set. She scored 28 points against Swati’s 21 to complete a 6-4 victory and secure gold.

Although the result was a disappointment after coming so close to the top podium position, Swati’s silver marked a historic achievement for Indian para archery. Her performance also followed a bronze medal at the World Archery Para Series in Ahmedabad last month.

The W1 classification is designed for archers with significant impairments affecting both their upper and lower limbs. Athletes compete from wheelchairs, and the category demands considerable control, consistency and concentration.

India also had reason to celebrate in the compound mixed team event, where Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar defeated Indonesia’s Teodora Audi Ayudia Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang 151-148 in the final.

The Indian pair made a strong start, moving ahead 38-37 in the opening end and extending their lead to 77-73 in the second. Indonesia fought back in the third end, but Sheetal and Toman held on to their advantage to secure the title.

The victory marked India’s first gold medal in archery at the ongoing Asian Para Games. The pair had also produced an impressive qualification-round performance, setting a world record with a combined score of 1,402 points.

For Toman, the gold added to his rise as one of the leading names in para archery. A former CoBRA commando and serving Central Reserve Police Force constable, he lost his left leg in an improvised explosive device blast during an anti-Maoist operation in Jharkhand in February 2022. He later took up para archery and went on to become a world champion in 2025.

Sheetal’s achievement was equally remarkable. The archer, who was born without arms, uses her feet and legs to position the bow and her shoulder and jaw to draw and release the string. Her success has made her one of India’s most recognised para-sport athletes.

Sheetal went on to win a second gold medal on Thursday, triumphing in the women’s individual compound final against Singapore’s Nur Syahidah Alim.

She recovered from a difficult start to turn the contest around and clinch the title. The victory made it a particularly successful day for the Indian archer, who had already won the mixed team gold with Toman.

Sheetal had also secured silver in the women’s compound doubles event alongside Payal Nag earlier in the competition, giving her another podium finish at the Games.

Her results underline India’s growing strength in para archery, where athletes have increasingly challenged established international competitors through consistent performances and strong preparation.

The performances by Swati, Sheetal and Toman offered a major boost to India’s campaign at the Asian Para Games. Swati’s historic silver expanded the country’s achievements in the W1 category, while the mixed team victory gave India its first archery gold of the competition.

Beyond the medal count, their performances highlighted the determination and skill required to compete at the highest level of para sport. With more events continuing at the Games, India will look to build on the momentum generated by its archers and add to its medal tally in Nagoya.