As the first notes from national anthemm The scoreboard that rang through the Bangkok Archery Center on Saturday told a tale of sporting upset: Payal Nag 139, Sheetal Devi 136. Yet the image that will endure in the annals of Indian sport was not the score but the sight of two young women standing side by side on the podium at the World Archery Para Series.
There was Payal Nag, an 18-year-old prodigy from Odisha, with a gold medal draped around her neck. Next to her stood the world’s most famous para-archer Sheetal Devi.
Payal, a quadruple amputee who navigates life in a wheelchair, failed to turn towards the tricolor for the national anthem. Before the officials could intervene, Sheetal – who had just seen her international title slip away from her – ducked. Using her legs with the same stance with which she draws a bow, she gently hooked the footrest of Payal’s wheelchair and turned it so that the teenager could face the flag.
It was a moment of gratifying sportsmanship: the champion ensured her successor stood in the right light.
Here is the moment!!
Payal Nag receives the GOLD medal in Bangkok and plays the national anthem.
And right next to her was Sheetal – gracefully helping her move the wheelchair.
Two champions. One stage. One unforgettable frame.
Pure inspiration. pic.twitter.com/wrobtOCSIL— Manas Muduli (@manas_muduli) April 6, 2026
Payal Naga’s journey to the top step of the World Archery Para Series is a story of resilience that borders on exceptional. Born to a day-wage mason in Odisha’s Balangir district, her life changed forever at the age of eight. A tragic electrocution in a brick kiln resulted in the loss of all four limbs.
For years the world saw only its limitations. However, Payal saw color. She began sketching and painting using her mouth—an ability that eventually became a bridge to an unexpected destiny. A viral video of her artwork caught the attention of coach Kuldeep Vedwan, one of the most influential figures in Indian para sports.
THE VEDWAN SYSTEM
Payal Nag with trainer Kuldeep Vedwan (PTI Photo)
Kuldeep Vedwan along with his wife Abhilasha Chaudhary works at the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex in Katra. He is also the coach who discovered Sheetal Devi, the world’s first armless female archer, and developed the unique foot-and-mouth technique that wowed spectators at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
When Vedwan saw Payal, he recognized the same rare combination of basic strength and mental determination. He introduced her to Sheetal’s journey and planted a seed of possibility.
Unlike Sheetal, who was born with phocomelia, Payal had to rebuild her life after losing her limbs. Under the guidance of Vedwan and Abhilasha, she developed a customized shooting system. While Sheetal anchors the bow with her feet, Payal relies on specialized prosthetic support and a mouth-operated shoulder trigger mechanism. The margin for error is microscopic; the discipline required is immense.
PAYAL COVERS HER IDOL
The final in Bangkok played out like a domestic rivalry on the international stage. Sheetal Devi, the reigning world number one and Paralympic bronze medallist, entered as the clear favourite. She started forcefully, but the 18-year-old refused to be caught off guard.
The match remained even until the third end when Payal’s composure proved decisive. She shot with remarkable composure for someone so early in her career and drove forward. With the last arrow, a new star announced itself.
THE MOMENT 18-YO PAYAL NAG STUNNING WORLD CHAMPION DEVI FOR WORLD TITLE!
Odisha’s Payal Nag wins gold medal at World Archery Para Series 2026
THE GIRLS DID ALL OF INDIA PROUD! pic.twitter.com/vUVBRT1KeG— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) April 4, 2026
It was not an isolated triumph. Payal had previously defeated Sheetal at the Para Nationals in Jaipur in 2025. But doing so on her senior international debut under the spotlight in Bangkok carried the weight of a generational shift.
Amidst the high-octane spectacle of the IPL, the scenes in Bangkok offered a different kind of sporting drama. In parasport, the opponent is often a reflection of one’s own path.
While India came out on top with seven gold medals, the lasting image remained at that moment on the podium. Sheetal Devi, a global icon with every reason to guard her dominance, chose grace instead. By helping Payal face the flag, she did more than modify her wheelchair—she signaled the arrival of the future.
Months ago, Payal spoke about the inspiration she got from Sheetal. In Bangkok, this inspiration closed. The girl who once painted her mouth now stands at the top of the archery world, capturing the moment all to herself.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
06 Apr 2026 23:33 IST
