Indian Para Archery Team Prepares for Historic World Series in Ahmedabad
Indian Para Archery Squad Gears Up for World Series
The Indian para archery team, consisting of 29 members, is ready to compete in the Ahmedabad 2026 World Archery Para Series, scheduled to take place at the Sabarmati Riverfront from September 5 to 9. This announcement was made through a press release. To prepare for this event, the squad held a training camp at the Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Gandhinagar from August 23 to September 2, 2026.
India Hosts Its First World Archery Para Series
This marks the inaugural occasion for India to host the World Archery Para Series. The tournament will see participation from 20 nations, including prominent countries such as China, Korea, Iran, France, Germany, the USA, and Canada.
The first stage of the World Archery Para Series was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in April 2026, where Indian archers performed exceptionally well, including a Gold medal achievement by Payal Nag. The second stage occurred from June 30 to July 4, 2026, in Czechia. The Ahmedabad event will serve as Stage 3, while Stage 4 is set to take place in Santiago, Chile, in October 2026.
The Ahmedabad 2026 Hyundai World Para Series will feature four divisions: Recurve, Compound, W1, and VI.
Notable Indian Archers in the Contingent
The Indian team boasts several distinguished athletes, including Paris Paralympics medallists Sheetal Devi, Rakesh Kumar, and Harwinder Singh, along with World Archery Para Series medalist Shyam Sunder Swami and World Championships medallist Toman Kumar.
Coach Discusses Training and Expectations
In an interview with SAI Media, Surender Singh Randhawa, the coach and manager of the para archery team, emphasized the significance of this ranking tournament. He stated, "This is a global event, attracting the best talent from around the world; its importance is heightened as it precedes the Asian Games."
Randhawa noted that among the 29 players in the Gandhinagar camp, 11 have already been selected to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. He explained, "The selection trials were previously conducted in Sonipat."
He also praised the facilities and support provided at NCoE, Gandhinagar, saying, "SAI, Gandhinagar made excellent arrangements for the players, coaches, and officials; the ground is in great condition, and the assistance from SAI officials has been outstanding."