KIPG 2025: Sheetal Devi defends Archery gold against Payal Nag

Defending champion Sheetal Devi delivered a stellar performance to claim her second consecutive gold medal at the Khelo India Para Games 2025. 

Competing in the compound archery open final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday, the 18-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir overcame Odisha’s Payal Nag 109-103.

The event witnessed a remarkable mix of experience and young talent, with veteran archers Rakesh Kumar, 40, and Jyoti Baliyan, 30, securing medals, while teenage sensations Sheetal and Payal showcased their brilliance on the podium. In other events, Jharkhand’s Vijay Sundi edged past Haryana’s Vikas Bhakar 6-4 in the men’s recurve open gold medal match, while Haryana’s Pooja triumphed over Maharashtra’s Rajshri Rathod 6-4 in the women’s recurve open final.

The highly anticipated women’s compound gold medal match saw an intense battle. Payal, 17, initially dominated with back-to-back 10s, while Sheetal started with 8 and 7. However, the tide turned in the third round when Payal faltered with a score of 7, allowing Sheetal to regain her rhythm with consistent 9s and 10s. The decisive fifth round sealed Sheetal’s victory, securing her a second Khelo India Para Games gold medal.

Acknowledging her opponent’s skill, Sheetal expressed gratitude and appreciation. “Payal played exceptionally well, and with her dedication, she will surely bring medals for India. Personally, I am thankful for Mata Rani’s blessings in winning my second gold medal here,” she stated via an SAI Media release.

Payal, participating in her first Khelo India Para Games, reflected on her journey and the technical challenges she faced. “Earlier, I used two devices in my prosthetic legs to shoot arrows, but now I use just one. It was a tough adjustment, and today’s windy conditions added to the challenge. Despite that, I’m happy to have reached the final and won silver,” she said.

Her coach, Kuldeep Vedwan, highlighted the remarkable progress Payal has made despite her unique challenges. “She is the world’s first quadruple amputee woman archer, and designing an additional device within her prosthetic leg was a challenge. Since we introduced the new mechanism only a month ago, she essentially restarted her para-archery journey. Her dedication and perseverance earned her this silver medal,” he explained.