Para archery
Para archery is target archery for athletes with a physical or vision impairment. Athletes shoot in four divisions: Para Recurve, Para Compound, W1 for the most impaired and VI for vision-impaired archers, who shoot at 30 metres with a tactile sight. Recurve matches use set scoring and compound matches add up every arrow.
New to para archery? Start here
How long
Matches of five sets or ends of three arrows
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Paralympic Games (para archery)The top title in para archery.Every 4 years · Holder: China 3 golds of 9
- 2World Archery Para ChampionshipsThe sport's own world title.Every 2 years (to check)
- 3Asian Para Games (para archery)Asia's para multi-sport title, held after the Asian Games in the same city.Every 4 years · Holder: 22 sports, 501 events
India
India has a Paralympic gold and two bronzes: Harvinder Singh's bronze (2020) and gold (2024) in the men's individual recurve open, and Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi's bronze in the 2024 mixed team compound open. At the World Championships India has 10 medals, all from 2022 to 2025 [the two pages].
- Para archery at the Paralympic Games: 1 gold, 2 bronzes: Harvinder Singh, bronze in the men's individual recurve open (2020) and gold in it (2024); Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi, bronze in the mixed team compound open (2024)
- World Para Archery Championships: 10 medals, all from 2022 to 2025: 3 gold (the 2023 compound mixed team; Toman Kumar and Sheetal Devi in the 2025 compound open), 5 silver and 2 bronze
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IndiaPara archery at the Paralympic Games: 1 gold, 2 bronzes (latest 2024); World Para Archery Championships: 3 golds, 5 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2025)
- Great BritainPara archery at the Paralympic Games: 19 golds, 22 silvers, 23 bronzes (latest 2024); World Para Archery Championships: 25 golds, 23 silvers, 21 bronzes (latest 2025)
- ChinaPara archery at the Paralympic Games: 14 golds, 10 silvers, 9 bronzes (latest 2024); World Para Archery Championships: 35 golds, 14 silvers, 15 bronzes (latest 2025)
- United StatesPara archery at the Paralympic Games: 22 golds, 8 silvers, 17 bronzes (latest 2024); World Para Archery Championships: 15 golds, 8 silvers, 7 bronzes (latest 2025)
- South KoreaPara archery at the Paralympic Games: 15 golds, 10 silvers, 13 bronzes (latest 2016); World Para Archery Championships: 21 golds, 14 silvers, 18 bronzes (latest 2025)
- ItalyPara archery at the Paralympic Games: 9 golds, 12 silvers, 13 bronzes (latest 2024); World Para Archery Championships: 19 golds, 19 silvers, 19 bronzes (latest 2025)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | World Archery, Rulebook, Book 5, Para Archery, 13 March 2026 |
| International federation | World Archery |
| In India | The Para National Archery Championship 2026 (NIS Patiala, 30 January to 2 February) was organised by the Punjab Archery Association; the PCI is on the MYAS list for 2026 |
Which national body sanctions para archery is not stated in the source.
Where and when it is played
On an archery field, at 70 metres for Para Recurve qualification and 50 metres for Para Compound and W1. The big events: the Paralympic Games every four years and the World Archery Para Championships.