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.
