World Para Archery championship: History-maker Sheetal, Toman Kumar lead India to 2 titles

The 18-year-old Indian Sheetal Devi scripted historical past by changing into the primary girl armless archer to win world championship gold within the compound particular person part, and Toman Kumar replicated the title run within the corresponding males’s occasion as India continued their good run on the Para World Archery Championships right here on a riveting Saturday (September 27, 2025).

On a day when India produced two world champions and a complete of 5 medals, Sheetal added a brand new web page to historical past e book, defeating Turkiye’s world No.1 Oznur Cure Girdi 146-143 to say gold.

The Jammu and Kashmir archer, the one competitor with out arms within the match, shoots utilizing her toes and chin.

In truth, the one earlier prompt of an armless archer profitable gold got here again in 2022 when USA’s Matt Stutzman stood on high of the rostrum in the course of the Dubai World Championships.

Sheetal had earlier received a combined staff bronze within the compound occasion with Toman Kumar, defeating Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham and Nathan MacQueen 152-149.

In the compound ladies’s open staff occasion, Sheetal and Sarita settled for silver after shedding to Turkey within the remaining.

Later, Toman claimed the compound males’s title after fellow Indian Rakesh Kumar was pressured to withdraw following a technical glitch as he misplaced 40-20 in an all-Indian remaining.

Rakesh, a Paris Paralympics bronze medalist, needed to withdraw after 4 photographs attributable to a pulley problem together with his bow, permitting Toman, making his world championship debut, to clinch the title with 4 good arrows.

The ladies’s particular person remaining was a tense battle however Sheetal stayed constant and shot with composure.

The first finish was tied at 29-all, however Sheetal fired three 10s within the second finish to take an early lead, profitable it 30-27.

The third finish was additionally tied at 29-all. Sheetal’s solely lapse got here within the fourth finish, the place she scored 28 as Girdi took it by one level, but the Indian nonetheless held a two-point lead at 116-114.

She then sealed her maiden gold with a flawless remaining finish, hitting three good arrows for 30.

The title conflict was a repeat of the 2023 Pilsen World Championships, the place Girdi had narrowly crushed Sheetal 140-138. This time, Sheetal turned the tables to avenge her defeat two years in the past.