NEW DELHI, Apr 9:
World No. 1 and reigning World Archery Para Champion Sheetal Devi is keeping her focus firmly on the present, choosing a step-by-step approach in her journey rather than looking too far ahead to the LA 2028 Paralympics.
For now, her attention is centred on the upcoming Para Asian Games in Japan later this year.
Fresh off a stellar 2025 season that saw her clinch a world title in Gwangju, Sheetal was recently named Para-Archer of the Year at the World Archery Awards. Despite the recognition, the young archer remains grounded in her approach.
“I don’t think too far ahead, like jumping straight to the Paralympics; I prefer taking it step by step,” Sheetal said in an online press conference organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
“Even in the World Series, my focus was simply on doing my best. The Paralympics will come later; since the Asian Games are happening first, that is where my main focus lies,” she added.
Sheetal began her 2026 campaign with a silver medal at the World Archery Para Series, the first outdoor international
event of the year. In an all-India final, she was edged out by compatriot Payal Nag, a quadruple amputee, who secured gold with a narrow 139-136 win.
Reflecting on her preparations for the upcoming Para Asian Games, Sheetal expressed satisfaction with her progress. “So far, the training is going well,” she said.
Her coach, Gaurav Sharma, echoed that sentiment, highlighting both her consistency and the increasing competitiveness within the Indian camp. “The preparations are going good. She hasn’t
played continuously this year so far, but the performance has remained strong. Coming in first or second is just a part of the game. It is great that the gold medal went to India. Payal considers Sheetal her idol, so losing to her is also a matter of pride since it was to a fellow Indian compatriot.”
He further underlined the benefits of strong internal competition. “It is a good thing that, ahead of the Asian Games, we’ve realised that our competition within India is also very high. Often, athletes feel that their only competition is from foreigners, but it is positive that we are finding such tough competition right here in India. This will only increase our focus for the Asian Games.”
Elaborating on the training roadmap, Sharma revealed that the team is currently based in Patiala and is planning an overseas stint to fine-tune preparations.
“We are training in Patiala until May. After May, we plan to train in the USA with the support of TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) and SAI (Sports Authority of India). There is currently a bit of a visa issue, which will hopefully be sorted out. If the USA plan doesn’t work out, we will continue training in Patiala,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of international exposure in sharpening competitive edge. “While there are good archers to train with in India as well, training abroad provides great exposure and helps us understand international standards.
Preparations are currently aligned with Japan’s timing, and we will gradually shift our schedule accordingly.”
Speaking about the evolving depth in Indian para-archery, Sheetal welcomed the growing competition within the squad. (PTI)
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