CRPF CoBRA Commando Toman Kumar, Who Lost Leg in IED Blast, Becomes World No. 1 Para Archer

New Delhi, October 18, 2026: Toman Kumar, a serving Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable and former CoBRA commando who lost his left leg in an improvised explosive device blast during an anti-Maoist operation in Jharkhand in 2022, has emerged as the world’s No. 1 para archer in the men’s compound category.

The 31-year-old from Nawagaon village in Chhattisgarh’s Balod district is now set to lead India’s medal hopes in para archery at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan. His rise from a critically injured security personnel to a world champion in less than three years of competitive archery has drawn attention for the pace and scale of his transformation.

Kumar joined the CRPF in 2017 and later trained with the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, or CoBRA, the elite unit tasked with counter-insurgency and anti-Maoist operations. In February 2022, while taking part in a joint search operation in the forested and hilly areas of Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district, he was caught in an IED blast planted by insurgents.

The explosion left him severely wounded. He was evacuated for treatment, but doctors were eventually forced to amputate his left leg. At the time, he was about 26 years old and had served nearly five years in the CRPF. The injury abruptly altered the course of his life and left him uncertain about his future.

The recovery was not only physical. Kumar has said he went through depression in the early stages as he struggled to accept the loss of a limb. His determination to return to duty, however, helped him push through that difficult period.

After the blast, Kumar underwent rehabilitation in Hyderabad, where he received treatment and help with an artificial limb. During that period, he met other injured personnel and people living with disabilities, experiences that encouraged him to rebuild his confidence and focus on what remained possible rather than what had been lost.

Despite the injury, he returned to duty about four months after the explosion, underlining his commitment to the force.

It was also in Hyderabad that he met archery coach Pankaj Singh, who saw potential in him and urged him to take up the sport. Kumar, who had grown up in a village with little exposure to competitive sports and had no prior archery experience, was initially reluctant. He even left an early training session before eventually deciding to give the discipline another chance.

Around September 2023, he began taking archery seriously. What started as short practice sessions gradually developed into an intensive training routine as he became increasingly drawn to the sport.

His background in the CRPF and CoBRA proved invaluable. The discipline, physical conditioning, concentration and calm under pressure that he had built as a commando helped him adapt quickly to archery, a sport that demands precision and mental control as much as physical skill.

Kumar’s progress was unusually fast. Although he entered the sport far later than most elite archers, he began producing strong results in domestic competition. He finished second in CRPF departmental trials and later won a silver medal at the All India Police Championship. He also tested himself against able-bodied archers and recorded competitive scores in national-level events.

By June 2024, he was training at a Sports Authority of India facility in Aurangabad, where he continued to sharpen his technique.

His breakthrough arrived at the 2025 World Archery Para Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Competing in the men’s compound individual category, he advanced to the final against experienced Indian para archer and Paralympic medallist Rakesh Kumar. The title match ended after Rakesh Kumar suffered a technical problem with his equipment and withdrew, giving Toman Kumar the gold medal and the world championship.

He also partnered with India’s celebrated para archer Sheetal Devi to win bronze in the mixed team event. The performance lifted him to the top of the world rankings in the men’s compound para archery category.

Kumar carried that form into 2026, producing strong results against some of the world’s most established para archers. At the Hyundai World Archery Para Series in Bangkok, he defeated Australia’s Paralympic medallist Jonathon Milne 146–142 to win the men’s compound individual gold. He and Sheetal Devi also won the compound mixed team gold there, beating Indonesia 153–146 in the final.

At the Ahmedabad stage of the series, Kumar joined Shyam Sunder Swami to capture the men’s compound team gold after defeating Iraq 152–139. He also won bronze medals in the individual and mixed team events in Ahmedabad, adding to his growing international tally. Another bronze in the men’s compound team event at the Czech Republic stage further reinforced his consistency on the circuit.

Those results have made him one of India’s strongest medal contenders in para archery. At the fifth Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, para archery competitions are scheduled from October 19 to 24 at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park, where Kumar will represent India.

The reigning world champion will lead the men’s compound challenge alongside Shyam Sunder Swami and is also expected to compete with Sheetal Devi in the mixed team event. With experienced archer Rakesh Kumar missing selection after finishing fourth in the national trials, Toman Kumar will carry added responsibility in India’s campaign.

His preparation goes beyond shooting practice. Kumar has also been using breathing exercises and meditation to improve concentration and handle competitive pressure.

Even after gaining international recognition, he continues to serve in the CRPF and remains closely linked to the organisation that shaped his discipline and resilience. His journey also highlights the role of rehabilitation and sporting opportunities for security personnel who suffer serious injuries while on duty.

From patrolling Maoist-affected forests as a CoBRA commando to standing on international podiums with the Indian flag, Kumar’s path shows that a life-changing injury does not have to end sporting ambition. Having already become a world champion, he is now looking ahead to further goals, including the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

As India begins its Asian Para Games campaign, Toman Kumar’s story stands out as one of courage, perseverance and recovery after a devastating injury in the line of duty.