News

Sheetal Devi sets Asian record as compound top seeds confirmed in Nove Mesto

30 June 2026

Nove Mesto, Czechia

Real name:

World Archery Para Champion Sheetal Devi fell one point short of matching her season best but still improved her own Asian record as she topped compound women’s qualifying at the second stage of the 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series in Nove Mesto.

The 19-year-old Indian shot an impressive 697, including 21 Xs, to finish 13 points clear of the field.

Singapore’s world number three Nur Syahidah Alim and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Champion Phoebe Paterson Pine both scored 684, with Alim taking second seed on X-count.

Teenager Payal Nag, the world’s first quadruple amputee archer, qualified eighth on 669, five points behind Paris 2024 bronze medallist Jodie Grinham. Nag defeated Devi to win her first senior international title at the opening stage of the 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series in Bangkok in April.

The compound men’s qualifying proved much closer.

USA’s Kevin Polish, India’s Rakesh Kumar and France’s Maxime Guérin all finished on 698, with Polish taking the top seed thanks to 27 Xs, compared with Kumar’s 21 and Guérin’s 17.

The 43-year-old was part of the USA team that won compound men’s gold at the 2025 World Archery Para Championships in Gwangju.

India also placed two more archers inside the top seven, with Shyam Sunder Swami and World Archery Para Champion and world number one Toman Kumar making strong starts.

Indonesia’s Kholidin topped recurve men’s qualifying with 644, two points clear of the field. Gwangju 2025 World Archery Para Champion Stefano Travisani qualified third, while Paralympic Champion Harvinder Singh finished five points behind on 639.

India also led recurve women’s qualifying as Bhawna shot a career-best 570 to finish one point ahead of Indonesia’s Noviera Ross.

In W1 men, Italy’s Maurizio Panella claimed the top seed with 668, ahead of home favourite and two-time Paralympic Champion David Drahoninsky, who qualified third.

The Czech crowd also had reason to celebrate in W1 women, where world number one Sarka Pultar Musilova topped qualifying with 649. Korea’s Kim Ok Geum, winner of the Bangkok stage, qualified third on 615.

Competition continues on Wednesday with team and individual eliminations.

Finals take place on Saturday and will be streamed on archery+.