India is set to host the Hyundai World Archery Para Series for the first time, bringing more than 100 athletes from 20 countries to the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad from September 5 to 9, according to reports from regional media outlets covering the announcement. The international competition marks a milestone for the country’s para-archery ecosystem as the third stage of the 2026 circuit.
The Ahmedabad leg follows the opening stage held in Bangkok in April and the second stage hosted in Nove Mesto, Czechia, from June 30 to July 4. Following the competition in India, the fourth and final stage of the 2026 tour will shift to Santiago, Chile, in October. Official organizers confirmed that the tournament’s opening ceremony is scheduled for September 4, carrying the thematic title “every arrow tells a story of courage.”
Tournament Structure and Competing Nations
Organized by the Archery Association of India with support from the Gujarat government, the Sports Authority of Gujarat, and the Sports Authority of India, the event features four distinct classification categories. Archers will compete in Recurve Open, Compound Open, W1, and Visually Impaired events along the Sabarmati Riverfront.
A global field has converged in Gujarat. The 20 participating countries include India, China, Great Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Slovakia, the United States, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cyprus, Czechia, Iraq, the Russian Federation, and Sri Lanka. Over 100 competitors are slated to take the shooting line.
Host Nation Squad and Key Contenders
India’s 29-member squad has been putting the finishing touches on their preparations at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar. The host nation roster features several names who have excelled on the global stage, including Paris 2024 Paralympic champion Harvinder Singh, world para archery champion and Paralympic medallist Sheetal Devi, Arjuna Awardee and World Para Archery medallist Rakesh Kumar, and Paralympian Shyam Sunder Swami.
In addition to testing themselves against international opposition in Ahmedabad, eleven members of the Indian squad have also secured selection for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. Officials note that hosting the series serves a dual purpose: giving domestic athletes home-soil experience against world-class fields while inspiring the next generation of competitors.
Official Perspectives on the Milestone Event
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi emphasized the sporting impact of the event during the buildup. According to Sanghavi, the tournament highlights Gujarat’s emergence as a major hub for international sporting events under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Archery Association of India President Arjun Munda described the hosting rights as a matter of great pride for the national body. AAI Secretary General Virendra Sachdeva added that bringing coaches, athletes, and the international community together on Indian soil marks a significant step forward for the development of the sport nationwide.
Competition officially begins on September 5 along the Sabarmati Riverfront and runs through September 9, concluding the third block of the 2026 international calendar before teams look ahead to the finale in Chile.
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