A perfect 10 when it mattered most gave Sheetal Devi a golden moment on home soil. The 19-year-old Indian para archer clinched gold in the women’s compound individual event at the World Archery Para Series 2026 Stage 3 in Ahmedabad, securing her first individual gold medal at the World Archery Para Series.

India finished the competition with an impressive 15 medals — four gold, three silver and eight bronze — as the country hosted the prestigious event for the first time.

One Arrow Decided It All

The final against Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan could hardly have been closer. After both archers finished the gold-medal contest tied at 144-144, the title had to be decided by a shoot-off.

Sheetal stepped up and delivered a 10. Seidan responded with a 9. That single point handed Sheetal the gold at the Sabarmati Riverfront and capped an outstanding individual campaign.

The world No. 1 had entered the eliminations as the top seed after scoring 698 in qualification. The mark was a season best and also improved her own Asian record by one point. She then defeated Slovakia’s Liliana Lacova, Great Britain’s Jessica Stretton and compatriot Sarita on her way to the final.

Another Record Before the Gold

The individual title was not Sheetal’s only major achievement in Ahmedabad. Earlier in the competition, she teamed up with fellow Paris 2024 mixed-team bronze medallist Rakesh Kumar to set a new world record in compound mixed-team qualification.

The Indian pair combined for 1,400 points, surpassing their previous world record of 1,399 set at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Sheetal contributed 698 points, while Rakesh scored 702. She later partnered Toman Kumar in the mixed-team eliminations, with the duo securing bronze.

India Shines Across Events

India’s medal haul stretched well beyond Sheetal’s triumph. Bhawna and Harvinder Singh won gold in the recurve mixed team event, defeating China 6-0. Bhawna also claimed an individual bronze, while Toman Kumar added bronze in the men’s compound individual event.

Earlier, Toman Kumar and Shyam Sunder Swami had won compound men’s doubles gold, while Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi secured the recurve men’s doubles title.

Held from September 5 to 9, the Ahmedabad event marked India’s first time hosting a World Archery Para Series competition. And for Sheetal, it ended with a moment to remember—a first individual gold, won with a perfect 10 under pressure.