Kashmir , October 19,2026-Sheetal Devi, the 19-year-old archer from Jammu and Kashmir, scored 704 out of 720 in the women’s compound qualification round at the Asian Para Games on Monday. The score equals the world record and sets a new Asian record. As a result, India also topped the women’s compound team qualification and earned a direct place in the semifinals.
Sheetal Devi’s Near-Flawless Qualification Round
Of her 72 arrows, 57 were perfect tens, and 32 of those landed in the innermost ring. Scoring this close to the maximum means almost nothing went wrong. Moreover, she held her rhythm from the first arrow to the last.
Sheetal shoots without arms. She draws the bow with her leg, shoulder and jaw. Because of this, such consistency is even more remarkable.
Records Rewritten in Nagoya
The Paris Paralympics bronze medallist beat the previous Asian record of 698 by six points. She also bettered her own Asian Para Games record of 680, set at Hangzhou in 2023. At those Games, she won two golds and a silver.
The world record of 704 belongs to Türkiye’s Öznur Girdi, who set it at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Therefore, the Indian archer now stands level with the best score in the world. Few archers have ever reached that mark.
India Top Women’s Compound Team Qualification
The individual score was only part of India’s day. Payal, competing at her first Asian Games, shot 675 to finish fifth. Together, the two archers gave India the top spot in the women’s compound team qualification with 1,379 points. Consequently, the team earned a direct place in the semifinals.
A direct semifinal berth is a real advantage. India skips the early elimination matches and saves energy for the medal rounds. In addition, Payal’s debut score shows encouraging depth in India’s compound squad.
What the Qualification Score Means
Qualification only decides seedings, and medals are still won in head-to-head matches. Wind, nerves and a single arrow can change a result. However, a high seed brings a better draw and more confidence.
The defending champion enters the knockouts with a record-equalling score behind her. Likewise, India enters the team event with a clear route to the medal rounds.
Pride for Jammu and Kashmir
The rise of Sheetal Devi from Jammu and Kashmir has made her a role model for young athletes. Girls and persons with disabilities, in particular, can see what is possible. Similarly, each record she sets adds to the belief that talent from remote areas can compete with the best in the world.
Success like this also needs steady support. Families, coaches and institutions all play a part. Furthermore, better training facilities in the region could help more young athletes follow her path.
Conclusion
Sheetal Devi arrives in Nagoya as a defending champion and in top form. The real contest begins in the knockout rounds, but the standard has been set. The scoreboard reads 704, a mark shared with the world’s best, and it gives India’s para archers a confident start.
