Ahmedabad: Para archers Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi scripted a new world record with a combined score of 1,400/1,440 in the Compound Mixed Team qualification rounds on the second day of the World Archery Para Series 2026.Rakesh Kumar scored 702 points in the para compound men’s qualification to finish second, just two points behind Indonesia’s top qualifier, who scored 704 out of 720. Sheetal Devi topped the para compound women’s qualification, adding to a strong day for the Indian compound contingent.India’s eight para compound archers — Rakesh Kumar, Toman Kumar, Shyam Sunder Swami and Gurwinder Singh in the men’s category, and Sheetal Devi, Payal Nag, Sarita and Lalpati in the women’s category — all advanced to the next stage.The day also featured the W1 and visually impaired categories, with all eight Indian W1 archers advancing to the next stage. India’s W1 contingent comprised Adil Mohamed Nazir Ansari, Naveen Dalal, Nurudin and Vinayak Amol Breed in the men’s category, and Swati Chaudhary, Vasundhra Teotia, Anjum Tanwar and Shriya Joshi in the women’s category.In the visually impaired category, Pawan Kumar, Yugal Garg and Tanvi Ingale advanced to the semi-finals, putting them one step closer to the medal rounds.The competition now moves into its decisive stages, with individual elimination rounds and team matches scheduled for Sept 7, before the competition culminates in the medal matches on Sept 8 and 9.The World Archery Para Series Stage 1 was played in Bangkok, Thailand, in April 2026, where Indian archers excelled (including a gold medal win by Payal Nag), Stage 2 took place from June 30 to July 4, 2026, in Czechia. The competition in Ahmedabad will be the stage 3, and the stage 4 will be played in Santiago, Chile in Oct 2026.
