The daughter of a daily wage mason, Payal Nag was around 8 years old when she stepped into a puddle on a terrace of an under-construction building connected to a live wire. The electric shock critically injured her, and doctors had to amputate all four of her limbs to save her life. ESPN Neighbours cruelly advised her parents to “just give her poison.” Fast forward a decade — and Payal Nag is making the Indian national anthem play at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok.
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Payal Nag : The Bangkok Gold That Stunned the World
India’s rising para-archer Payal Nag, a quadruple amputee, defeated reigning world champion Sheetal Devi 139–136 to clinch the women’s compound open individual gold in her very first senior international appearance.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tournament | World Archery Para Series, Bangkok |
| Category | Women’s Compound Open Individual |
| Score | Payal Nag 139 – Sheetal Devi 136 |
| India’s Medal Haul | 7 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze (16 Total) |
| Payal’s Age | 18 Years |
| Coach | Kuldeep Vedwan |
Despite competing in only her second international tournament, Payal displayed exceptional calm under pressure against her highly decorated opponent — and also teamed up with Sheetal to bag the team gold.
The Tech Behind the Arrow
Unlike Sheetal, who anchors the bow with her feet, Payal relies on a specialised prosthetic support and a shoulder-trigger mechanism operated with her mouth. The margin for error is microscopic; the discipline required is immense.
Coach Vedwan — who also discovered Sheetal Devi — spent three months customising equipment specifically for Payal before she was ready to compete internationally. Her international debut came only after World Archery approved her customised equipment, making her the world’s first quadruple amputee archer to compete internationally. ESPN
Learn more about para-archery’s growing global movement on Wikipedia.
A Moment of Grace on the Podium
The real viral moment wasn’t the gold. Payal, navigating life in a wheelchair, was unable to turn towards the tricolour for the national anthem. Before officials could intervene, Sheetal — who had just seen her title slip away — leaned down and gently pivoted Payal’s wheelchair so she could face the flag. India Today Two champions. One podium. One unforgettable frame.
Also read: Sheetal Devi — India’s Armless Archery Sensation | India’s Best Para-Athletes to Watch in 2026
FAQs
Q: Who is Payal Nag and why is she famous?
Payal Nag is an 18-year-old Indian quadruple amputee archer from Odisha who won gold at the 2026 World Archery Para Series in Bangkok, defeating world No. 1 Sheetal Devi on her senior international debut.
Q: How does Payal Nag shoot a bow without arms or legs?
She uses a customised prosthetic leg mount to hold the bow and a shoulder-triggered chest release mechanism operated with her mouth — equipment specially designed by coach Kuldeep Vedwan.
