New Delhi, October 18, 2026: In an extraordinary story of courage, determination and resilience, 31-year-old Toman Kumar, a serving Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable and former CoBRA commando, has risen to become the world’s No. 1 para archer in the men’s compound category after losing his left leg in an IED blast during an anti-Maoist operation in Jharkhand in 2022.
Hailing from Nawagaon village in Chhattisgarh’s Balod district, Kumar has made a remarkable transition from conducting anti-Maoist operations in challenging forest terrain to representing India at the highest level of international para archery. His achievements include a gold medal at the 2025 World Archery Para Championships and several international medals in 2026.
Kumar is now set to lead India’s medal challenge in para archery at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan. His journey from a severely injured commando to a world champion in less than three years of competitive archery has emerged as an inspiring example of the fighting spirit of India’s security personnel.
Toman Kumar joined the CRPF in 2017 and subsequently underwent training with the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite specialised unit responsible for conducting counter-insurgency and anti-Maoist operations.
In February 2022, Kumar was participating in a joint search operation against Maoists in the forested and hilly areas of Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district when an improvised explosive device planted by insurgents detonated.
The powerful explosion left him critically injured. He was evacuated for medical treatment, but doctors were ultimately forced to amputate his left leg.
At the time of the incident, Kumar was around 26 years old and had served approximately five years in the CRPF. The injury brought an unexpected and devastating change to his life, leaving him uncertain about his future.
The physical trauma was accompanied by considerable emotional challenges. Kumar has spoken about experiencing depression during the initial stages of his recovery as he struggled to come to terms with losing a limb. However, his determination to return to duty eventually helped him overcome the difficult phase.
Following the injury, Kumar underwent rehabilitation in Hyderabad, where he received treatment and assistance with an artificial limb. During his recovery, he encountered several other injured personnel and individuals living with disabilities. Their experiences motivated him to rebuild his confidence and look beyond the limitations imposed by his injury.
Despite losing his leg, Kumar returned to duty approximately four months after the explosion, demonstrating his commitment to the force.
It was during his rehabilitation in Hyderabad that he came into contact with archery coach Pankaj Singh, who recognised his potential as an athlete and encouraged him to try the sport.
Initially, Kumar was hesitant. Having grown up in a village with little exposure to competitive sports, he had no previous experience in archery. He even walked away from an early training session before eventually deciding to give the sport another chance.
Around September 2023, he began taking archery seriously. What started as short practice sessions soon became an intensive training routine as he developed a passion for the sport.
His years of military training proved valuable. The discipline, physical conditioning, concentration and ability to remain calm under pressure that he had developed as a CoBRA commando helped him adapt quickly to competitive archery.
Kumar’s progress in archery was exceptionally rapid. Despite entering the sport much later than many established competitors, he began producing impressive results at domestic competitions.
He secured second place in CRPF departmental trials and subsequently won a silver medal at the All India Police Championship. He also demonstrated his abilities while competing against able-bodied archers, recording competitive scores at national-level events.
By June 2024, he had progressed to training at a Sports Authority of India facility in Aurangabad, where he continued to refine his technique.
His biggest breakthrough came at the 2025 World Archery Para Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Competing in the men’s compound individual category, Kumar reached the final against experienced Indian para archer and Paralympic medallist Rakesh Kumar.
The final ended after Rakesh suffered a technical problem with his equipment and withdrew from the contest, allowing Toman Kumar to claim the gold medal and become world champion.
He also teamed up with India’s celebrated para archer Sheetal Devi to secure a bronze medal in the mixed team event.
The remarkable performance propelled Kumar to the world No. 1 position in the men’s compound para archery category, completing an extraordinary sporting transformation.
Kumar carried his impressive form into 2026, producing strong performances against some of the world’s most experienced para archers.
At the Hyundai World Archery Para Series in Bangkok, he defeated Australia’s Paralympic medallist Jonathon Milne by 146–142 to win the men’s compound individual gold medal. He also partnered with Sheetal Devi to secure the compound mixed team gold medal, defeating Indonesia 153–146 in the final.
At the Ahmedabad stage of the series, Kumar joined Shyam Sunder Swami to win the men’s compound team gold medal after defeating Iraq 152–139. He also secured bronze medals in the individual and mixed team competitions in Ahmedabad, adding to his growing international medal tally.
Another bronze medal in the men’s compound team competition at the Czech Republic stage further demonstrated his consistency on the international circuit.
These achievements have established Kumar as one of India’s leading medal prospects in para archery.
Kumar will now represent India at the fifth Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where para archery competitions are scheduled from October 19 to 24 at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park.
The reigning world champion will spearhead India’s men’s compound challenge alongside Shyam Sunder Swami. He is also expected to compete alongside Sheetal Devi in the mixed team category.
With experienced Indian archer Rakesh Kumar missing selection after finishing fourth in the national trials, Toman Kumar will shoulder significant responsibility in India’s campaign.
His preparation includes not only intensive archery practice but also breathing exercises and meditation to strengthen concentration and manage pressure during competitions.
Despite achieving international recognition, Kumar continues to serve in the CRPF and remains closely connected to the organisation that shaped his discipline and determination.
His journey also highlights the importance of rehabilitation and sporting opportunities for security personnel who suffer serious injuries during operational duties.
From patrolling Maoist-affected forests as a CoBRA commando to standing on international podiums with the Indian national flag, Kumar has demonstrated that a life-changing injury need not end a person’s ambitions.
Having already established himself as a world champion, he is now looking towards greater achievements, including the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
As India begins its campaign at the Asian Para Games, Toman Kumar’s story stands as a powerful example of courage, perseverance and the indomitable spirit of a soldier who refused to give up after losing his leg in the line of duty.
