Asian Para Games 2026The stories of Indian para-athletes are as diverse as they are inspiring. Some were born with a disability, while others lost a limb an arm or a leg while attempting to save someone else. Still others acquired their disabilities as a result of various accidents.
Then there are those who sustained severe injuries while defending the nation, and who are now flying the tricolor high in the world of sports. Toman Kumar is one such Indian; he once fought against Naxalites, and has now won a gold medal in archery at the Asian Para Games. Toman secured this gold in the mixed team event, competing alongside Sheetal Devi.
First a World Record, Then Gold
On Thursday, October 22—the fifth day of the Para Games currently underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan—the Indian duo of Toman Kumar and Sheetal Devi defeated Indonesia’s Teodora Audi Ayudia Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang with a score of 151–148. The top-seeded Indian team maintained a lead from the very beginning of the contest, ultimately securing a 3-point victory in a tightly contested match.
This gold medal is just a glimpse of the stellar performance by Sheetal and Toman. The duo also delivered an outstanding display in the qualification round, setting a new world record with a score of 1,402 points two points higher than the previous record.
However, the story of Toman and Sheetal is not limited to winning gold medals or setting world records; it is a story of struggle, determination, and the resilience to rise again after a fall. Sheetal Devi, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, was born without arms. She uses her feet and legs to steady her compound bow, and then employs her shoulder and jaw to draw and release the bowstring.
From Rifle-Wielding Commando to Archer: The Story of Toman
While the story of Sheetal is well-known both within the country and globally, Toman’s story has reached far fewer people yet it is no less inspiring. Hailing from Chhattisgarh, Toman Kumar took a stand against a conflict that had plagued his home state and several other parts of the country for years.
In 2017, Toman Kumar enlisted in the CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which was engaged in operations against Naxalites in Chhattisgarh. He stepped directly onto the battlefield, driven by the goal of bringing safety and stability to his home state.
However, the fight against the Naxalites came at a heavy personal cost. In 2021, during one such operation, Toman was caught in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast. One of his legs was severely injured, ultimately resulting in its amputation. Yet, this tragic event steered his life in a new direction.
After a period of struggling with depression, Toman traveled to Hyderabad to be fitted with a prosthetic leg. There, encountering others who had faced similar challenges, he found the inspiration to begin a new chapter in his life. The commando once an expert with a rifle picked up a bow and arrow, turning archery into his passion. This dedication propelled him to new heights in para-archery; he not only achieved the world number-one ranking and became a world champion, but has now also earned the title of a gold medalist.
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