Sheetal Devi booked another medal for India at the Hyundai World Archery Para Series in Ahmedabad on Monday, September 7, defeating compatriot Sarita 145-143 in an all-Indian compound women’s semifinal. The 19-year-old world champion will meet Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan in Wednesday’s gold-medal match at the Sabarmati Riverfront.
The final berth arrived barely a day after Sheetal and Rakesh Kumar combined for 1,400 points in mixed-team qualification, improving their own world record of 1,399 from the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Sheetal also topped individual qualification with a season-best 698, one point better than her previous Asian record.
Sheetal Devi Reaches Final After Tight All-Indian Semifinal
Sheetal entered the elimination rounds as the top seed after a commanding qualification performance. Her 698 from 720 included 25 tens and 26 Xs, leaving her 10 points ahead of the field. That cushion did not make the semifinal routine. Sarita stayed close throughout before Sheetal held on for a two-point victory, 145-143.
The result guarantees India at least silver in the women’s compound event, while Sarita still has a medal chance against China’s Wang Huiting in the bronze contest. Aizada Seidan, Sheetal’s opponent in the final, qualified second with a career-best 688.
The gold-medal match is scheduled for September 9, the closing day of the Ahmedabad stage. The official World Archery Para Series schedule lists team finals for September 8 and individual finals for September 9.
Key Highlights
- Sheetal beat Sarita 145-143 to reach the compound women’s individual final.
- She will face Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan for gold on Wednesday, September 9.
- Sheetal topped qualification with 698, setting a new Asian record.
- Sheetal and Rakesh Kumar scored 1,400 in mixed-team qualification, a new world record.
- India is hosting a World Archery Para Series stage for the first time in Ahmedabad.
- The event features 109 archers from 19 countries and runs from September 5 to 9.
How Sheetal Devi And Rakesh Kumar Broke Their Own World Record
Sunday produced one of the biggest numbers of the Ahmedabad competition. Sheetal’s 698 and Rakesh Kumar’s career-best 702 added up to 1,400 in compound mixed-team qualification. The official mixed-team qualification results placed India first, ahead of France on 1,384 and Indonesia on 1,383.
The Indian pair had previously held the world record at 1,399, set during qualification at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. They later won mixed-team bronze in Paris. Moving the record by a single point may look small, but compound qualification leaves almost no room for loose arrows when scores sit this close to the maximum 1,440.
Rakesh’s 702 also placed him second in the men’s qualification behind Indonesia’s Ken Swagumilang, who shot 704. Sheetal, meanwhile, added another top seeding alongside Lalpati in compound women’s doubles with 1,368.
That record also sharpened attention on India’s compound squad before the elimination rounds began on Monday afternoon.
The official World Archery qualification report confirms both the 1,400 world record and Sheetal’s 698 Asian record, giving the Ahmedabad stage two major record marks before the medal rounds were complete.
Why Ahmedabad Has Become A Major Para Archery Story
Ahmedabad is hosting India’s first international para archery competition in the Hyundai World Archery Para Series, which launched in 2026 to provide athletes with more high-level competition and ranking opportunities.
The Sabarmati Riverfront event has drawn 109 athletes from 19 countries across compound, recurve, W1 and visually impaired categories. India arrived with a 29-member squad after topping the medal table at the opening series stage in Bangkok with seven gold medals, according to the World Archery event preview.
The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games are less than seven weeks away. Sheetal is due to defend both her women’s compound individual and mixed-team titles in Japan, so Ahmedabad offers a final stretch of international pressure before that campaign.
Other Indian medal stories are developing too. Toman Kumar reached the men’s compound bronze-medal match after losing 146-144 to Swagumilang in the semifinal. Swati Chaudhary is also due to contest W1 women’s bronze, while the visually impaired events have added further home interest.
Can Sheetal Devi Turn Record-Breaking Form Into Gold?
The numbers make Sheetal the favourite, although elimination archery can turn on one arrow. She qualified 10 points ahead of Seidan and then came through a semifinal in which Sarita pushed her until the finish. That combination of dominant scoring and a close knockout test could prove useful before the gold match.
Her 2026 series has already been eventful. At the opening stage in Bangkok, Payal Nag defeated Sheetal and went on to claim a senior international title. Sheetal responded at Nove Mesto by shooting an Asian-record 697 in qualification. Ahmedabad has now brought another improvement to 698 and a third straight series final.
Gold would therefore give Sheetal something her season has been building toward: a first individual World Archery Para Series title of 2026, earned on home soil. It would also arrive before the Asian Para Games, where expectations around the reigning world champion will be high.
For now, India already has the medal. The remaining question is its colour. Sheetal’s qualification score, her 145-point semifinal and the world-record mixed-team total with Rakesh all suggest that she enters Wednesday with the form to finish the Ahmedabad week on top.
FAQs
When Is Sheetal Devi’s Final In Ahmedabad?
Sheetal Devi will contest the women’s compound gold-medal match on Wednesday, September 9, in Ahmedabad.
Who Will Sheetal Devi Face In The Final?
She faces Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan, who qualified second after shooting a career-best 688 in Ahmedabad.
What World Record Did Sheetal Devi And Rakesh Kumar Set?
They scored 1,400 in mixed-team qualification, improving the world record they previously held by one point.
What Was Sheetal Devi’s Qualification Score In Ahmedabad?
Sheetal shot 698 from 720, setting a new Asian record and taking the top seed.
Where Is The World Archery Para Series Being Held?
The third 2026 series stage is being held at Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront from September 5-9.
