Payal Nag Wins Gold At World Para Archery Finals: In a story that has captured the heart of the nation, legendary industrialist Anand Mahindra has shared a deeply moving tribute to Payal Nag. The 18-year-old para archer from Odisha, who lost all four limbs in a childhood accident, recently made history by defeating her own idol and world number one, Sheetal Devi, to clinch gold at the World Para Archery Series Final in Bangkok.
Mahindra, known for spotlighting stories of extraordinary personalities, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express how the young champion serves as his personal source of strength.
Anand Mahindra’s Heartfelt Tribute
Sharing images of the champion, Anand Mahindra admitted that their stories are what keep him grounded. He noted that whenever he feels “low or sorry” for himself, he looks at Payal and Sheetal to remind himself of the true meaning of resilience.
“Payal Nag. Daughter of a daily-wage mason from Odisha. Electrocuted at the age of eight. Lost all four limbs. And then, found a bow,” Mahindra wrote. “These champions are not just my #MondayMotivation. They will be a source of motivation Every. Single. Day.”
WATCH POST
Payal Nag.
Daughter of a daily-wage mason from Odisha.
Electrocuted at the age of eight. Lost all four limbs.And then, found a bow.
Spotted through her paintings by coach Kuldeep Vedwan, the same man who shaped world champion Sheetal Devi.
Defeated her idol Sheetal Devi at… pic.twitter.com/KdWGcuAJ9X
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 6, 2026
Payal’s Journey
Payal’s life changed forever at the age of eight when she was accidentally electrocuted at a brick kiln. The daughter of a daily-wage mason from Balangir, Odisha, she lost both her arms and legs in the tragedy.
Despite the unimaginable loss, her spirit remained unbroken.
Her journey into the world of sports began in an unconventional way. She was first spotted by coach Kuldeep Vedwan, the same mentor who shaped the career of Paralympic medalist Sheetal Devi.
Vedwan noticed Payal’s incredible focus while she was painting intricate portraits using only her mouth. Recognising a champion’s discipline, he brought her to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Archery Academy in Katra to begin her training in 2023.
The Final in Bangkok
The final in Bangkok on Saturday was a poetic showdown. Payal faced off against Sheetal Devi, the woman she had studied and revered as her inspiration.
In a tense battle of nerves, the teenager showed remarkable composure to win 139-136, securing the individual compound gold.
Earlier in the tournament, the two “sisters in spirit” had teamed up to win the doubles gold, helping India finish at the top of the medal standings with seven gold medals.
Payal Nag: 18-year-old quadruple amputee; first archer in the world to compete without all four limbs.
The Mechanism: She uses a custom-made prosthetic leg to steady the bow and a chest-release system operated by her mouth to shoot.
The Result: Double gold at her senior international debut in Bangkok, April 2026.
2028 Paralympics In Sight
Coach Kuldeep Vedwan believes this is just the beginning for Payal. Having mastered her unique shooting technique in less than three years, she is now being prepared for the 2026 Para Asian Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
Her victory in Bangkok proves that for athletes like Payal and Sheetal, limitations only exist if you choose to see them.
