Payal Nag, a quadruple amputee, found a new path in life after a drawing she made with her mouth went viral on social media, catching the attention of coach Kuldeep Vedwan. This led to her discovery of archery, self-belief, discipline, and purpose. Recently, she impressed at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok by defeating the reigning world champion Sheetal Devi, the first female limbless archer.
At the age of seven, Payal lost all her limbs due to an accident involving an 11,000-volt power line in 2015. Despite facing doubts and ridicule growing up in Odisha, India, as the daughter of migrant laborers, she persevered. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, her family relocated to Chhattisgarh, where she received support from the state administration and was placed in a government childcare institute, sparking her desire to achieve despite her challenges.
Payal’s journey continued as she honed her skills in sketching portraits using her feet, winning various district-level art competitions. Her talent came to light when a picture she drew with her mouth went viral on social media platform ‘X,’ leading coach Kuldeep Vedwan to reach out to her. Subsequently, she trained alongside Paralympic medallist Sheetal Devi at the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex, marking her entry into competitive archery.
In 2025, Payal made her mark at the National Para-Archery Championship, claiming the top position among India’s para-archery icons, including Sheetal and Paralympian Jyoti Baliyan. Notably, she also clinched victory over Sheetal in the Olympic round, securing the national champion title. Her journey reached a milestone at the Dubai 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, where she became the first quadruple amputee archer from India and globally to compete internationally.
Recently, at the Indian Para Archery Championships, Payal showcased her prowess by finishing second in the qualification round behind world champion Sheetal, ultimately winning bronze in the individual event.
