The Paris Paralympics witnessed a stellar performance from India’s 17-year-old armless archer, Sheetal Devi, who led the Indian archery team with an impressive display in the ranking round. Competing in the women’s individual compound open category, Sheetal secured second place with a score of 703 points, advancing directly to the round of 16.
Sheetal Devi’s Remarkable Journey
Sheetal Devi’s journey to the Paralympics is nothing short of inspirational. Born without arms, she has overcome significant challenges to excel in archery, a sport that demands precision and control. Using her legs to shoot, Sheetal has developed a unique technique that has set her apart on the international stage.
Her performance in the ranking round signifies her dedication and skill, as she scored 703 out of a possible 720 points, narrowly missing the top spot to Turkey’s Oznur Girdi Cure, who set a new world record with 704 points.
Highlights of the Ranking Round
Score and Placement: Sheetal’s score of 703 points not only secured her second place but also surpassed the previous world record of 698 points set by Phoebe Pine Paterson of Great Britain earlier this month.
Technical Excellence: She shot 59 tens and 24 Xs in the 72-arrow contest, showcasing her technical prowess and consistency.
Direct Advancement: Her top-four finish in the ranking round allowed her to bypass the round of 32 and advance directly to the round of 16.
At 17, Sheetal Devi on her Paralympics Debut 🫡
– Broke World & Personal Record
– Score brilliant 703/720
– Finished 2nd at Ranking RoundSheetal Devi is the only Female International Archer in the World who shoots without arms.pic.twitter.com/8qS2THRxM0
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) August 29, 2024
Other Indian Performances
In addition to Sheetal’s impressive show, other Indian archers also delivered commendable performances:
Sarita: Finished ninth with a score of 682 points and will face Abdul Jalil Nur Jannaton of Malaysia in the round of 32.
Harvinder Singh: The Tokyo Paralympics bronze medallist finished ninth in the men’s individual recurve open ranking round with a score of 637 points.
Rakesh Kumar and Shyam Sundar Swami: Participated in the men’s individual compound open ranking round, finishing fifth and 15th with scores of 696 and 688 points, respectively.
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