Para-Archer Payal Nag Earns Praise from Anand Mahindra After Bangkok Victory
After overcoming the loss of all four limbs, Odisha's Payal Nag has gained widespread recognition for defeating her idol at the World Para Archery Series Final.
Anand Mahindra has publicly lauded the resilience of para-archer Payal Nag, stating that the athlete serves as a personal source of inspiration. Nag, a native of Odisha, overcame a life-altering accident at age eight that resulted in the loss of all four limbs due to electrocution.
Nag’s path to professional sports began unexpectedly when her artistic talent for painting was discovered, eventually leading her to the sport of archery. Under the guidance of coach Kuldeep Vedwan, she developed the technical precision required to compete at the highest levels of the sport. Her ascent reached a significant milestone at the recent World Para Archery Series Final in Bangkok, where she secured a victory against her own idol, Sheetal Devi.
Mahindra highlighted Nag’s performance as a testament to human courage, noting that her ability to surmount physical adversity serves as a powerful reminder of determination in the face of hardship. Nag’s transition from an accidental discovery to a podium-topping competitor has drawn national attention, marking her as a rising figure in global para-archery.