Devi and Kumar make history with first 1400-point para mixed team score
India’s Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar made history at the Ahmedabad 2026 World Archery Para Series on 6 September, becoming the first para mixed team to reach 1400 points in qualification.
The compound pair combined for the landmark score over the 50-metre, 144-arrow round, improving their own world record of 1399 set at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The new world record has now been officially ratified by World Archery.
Devi and Kumar have shared several of India’s biggest successes in recent years, including mixed team bronze at Paris 2024 and gold medals at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games and Bangkok 2023 Asian Para Archery Championships.
“This was my second time setting a record in the team event,” said Devi, who went on to win the individual gold medal in Ahmedabad. “I didn’t realise it on the shooting line as I focused on putting out my best performance. It was definitely a joyous surprise for me.”
“We’ve played and won a number of tournaments together, therefore, we share a close bond. Every achievement helps strengthen this bond a little more and yes, this one too matters a lot,” she added.
With 36 days to go until the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, the record and individual gold provided another confidence boost for Devi, who will defend two titles in Japan.
“My primary goal is to perform my best as achievements only come up when we put out our best shooting and confidence,” said the world number one.
The 19-year-old armless archer has continued to break new ground since her breakthrough victories at the Hangzhou 2022, which announced her arrival on the big stage. She also won silver at the 2023 World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen.
Last November, Devi was selected for India’s able-bodied compound team to compete at the Asia Cup in Jeddah.
She was also named Para Archer of the Year at the World Archery Awards 2025 following a breakthrough season that included her first individual world title in Gwangju.
