Ahmedabad, Sept 2026 : Ahmedabad is set to host the Hyundai World Archery Para Series for the first time, with more than 100 athletes from 20 countries expected to compete at the Sabarmati Riverfront from September 5 to 9. The international event marks a significant milestone for para-archery in India and further strengthens Gujarat’s position as a destination for major sporting competitions.
The Ahmedabad tournament is the third stage of the 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series. The season opened in Bangkok in April before moving to Nove Mesto in Czechia, which hosted the second stage from June 30 to July 4. The fourth and final stage of the series is scheduled to take place in Santiago, Chile, in October.
The tournament is being organised by the Archery Association of India (AAI) with the support of the Gujarat government, Sports Authority of Gujarat and Sports Authority of India (SAI). Competitions will be held across the Recurve Open, Compound Open, W1 and Visually Impaired categories, bringing together some of the leading para archers from around the world.
The participating nations include India, the People's Republic of China, Great Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Slovakia, the United States, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cyprus, Czechia, Iraq, Russia and Sri Lanka.
India will field a strong 29-member squad, featuring several prominent names in para-archery. The line-up includes 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.
The Indian contingent has been preparing at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar. Eleven members of the squad have also earned selection for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, making the Ahmedabad event an important competitive opportunity ahead of the continental competition.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the tournament would provide Indian para-athletes with an opportunity to compete against international competitors while showcasing the state’s growing capabilities in hosting global sporting events.
Sanghavi said the opening ceremony, themed “Every Arrow Tells a Story of Courage,” would celebrate the determination, resilience and sporting excellence of para-athletes. He added that the event would highlight the precision and perseverance associated with para-archery while providing the sport with an international platform.
He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat had emerged as a major hub for international sporting events. Hosting the para-archery series in Ahmedabad, he added, would further enhance the state’s profile and provide a global platform for the sport.
The tournament will be formally inaugurated on September 4, a day ahead of the start of competition.
AAI President Arjun Munda said it was a matter of pride for the association to host the Hyundai World Archery Para Series in India. He said the presence of leading para archers from across the world would give Indian athletes a valuable opportunity to compete against top international competitors on home soil.
Munda also said the event would inspire a new generation of athletes and demonstrate India’s growing ability to host major international sporting competitions while strengthening the country’s commitment to inclusive and accessible sport.
AAI Secretary General Virendra Sachdeva described the event as an important milestone for para-archery in India. He said bringing athletes, coaches and members of the international archery community together in the country would help strengthen the domestic para-archery ecosystem.
Sachdeva added that hosting the global field in Ahmedabad would allow India to showcase the quality of its para-archery programme to a wider audience while creating greater opportunities for athletes and coaches to engage with the international sporting community.
