Sheetal Devi, an Indian armless archer, finished second in the compound ranking round at the 2024 Paris Paralympics with a personal best score of 703 out of 720. Despite falling just one point short of the world record, Devi’s performance was nothing short of remarkable.
Sheetal Devi’s Background
Sheetal Devi, who was born with phocomelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that kept her limbs underdeveloped, was discovered at a military camp in a remote part of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir. She was adopted by the Indian Army in her childhood and has since become a sensation in the archery world. Last year, she became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. She also became the first armless woman to win a Para World Archery Championships medal last year.
Sheetal Devi’s Performance
Sheetal Devi, who shoots with her legs due to being born without arms, scored 703 points in the 72-arrow contest. Her score surpassed the previous world record of 698 set by Phoebe Pine Paterson of Great Britain earlier this month. However, Oznur Girdi Cure of Turkey set a new world record with a score of 704 points, pushing Devi to second place.
Sheetal Devi’s Score
- Score: 703 points
- Previous World Record: 698 points set by Phoebe Pine Paterson of Great Britain
- New World Record: 704 points set by Oznur Girdi Cure of Turkey
Breakdown of Sheetal Devi’s Score
- 59 10s
- 24 Xs
Ranking Round Results
In the ranking round, Devi shot 59 10s and 24 Xs, while her Turkish opponent had 56 10s and 29 Xs. The top-four finishers in the ranking round, including Devi, got byes from the round of 32 competition and will feature in the round of 16 on Saturday.
Next Match
Devi will face the winner of the round of 32 match between Mariana Zuniga of Chile and Choi Na Mi of Korea, who finished 15th and 18th respectively in the ranking round. Zuniga had won a silver medal in the women’s individual compound open at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Other Indian Performances
Another Indian athlete, Sarita, finished ninth with a score of 682 and will face Abdul Jalil Nur Jannaton of Malaysia in the round of 32 on Friday. In the men’s individual recurve open ranking round, Tokyo Paralympics bronze medallist Harvinder Singh finished ninth with a score of 637. He faces Tseng Lung-Hui of Chinese Taipei in the round of 32 on September 4.
Upcoming Challenges
Sheetal Devi will face the winner of the round of 32 match between Mariana Zuniga of Chile and Choi Na Mi of Korea, who finished 15th and 18th respectively in the ranking round. Zuniga had won a silver medal in the women’s individual compound open at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Conclusion
Sheetal Devi’s remarkable performance in the compound ranking round at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where she scored a personal best of 703 points, just one point shy of the world record, is a testament to her skill and determination as an armless archer. Despite not setting a new world record, her achievement is impressive, and she will move forward to face the winner of the round of 32 match between Mariana Zuniga of Chile and Choi Na Mi of Korea in the next stage of the competition.
FAQ’s
Q: Who will Sheetal Devi face next?
A: The winner of the round of 32 match between Mariana Zuniga of Chile and Choi Na Mi of Korea.
Q: What was Sheetal Devi's score in the compound ranking round?
A: 703 points, just one point shy of the world record.
Q: What is Sheetal Devi known for?
A: Being an armless archer.
