Indian para-athlete Sheetal Devi has secured a direct entry into the round of 16 at the Paris Paralympics in the women’s individual compound open archery event. This remarkable achievement comes after Devi’s impressive performance in the ranking round on Thursday, where she scored an astounding 703 out of a possible 720, placing her second overall.
Devi’s score shattered the previous world record of 698, previously held by Great Britain’s Phoebe Pine Paterson, set earlier this month. However, Turkey’s Oznur Girdi Cure ultimately claimed the world record with an even higher score of 704, pushing Devi into second place.
As one of the top four finishers in the ranking round, Devi receives a bye from the round of 32, advancing directly to the round of 16 scheduled for Saturday. Her opponent will be determined by the outcome of the match between Chile’s Mariana Zuniga, ranked 15th, and Korea’s Choi Na Mi, ranked 18th. Notably, Zuniga is a formidable competitor, having won silver in the same event at the Tokyo Paralympics.
This achievement adds to Devi’s growing list of accolades. At the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, she became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Games, claiming victory in the women’s individual compound and mixed team events. She also secured a silver medal in the women’s doubles event.
Devi’s journey to success is as inspiring as her achievements. Born with phocomelia syndrome, a rare condition affecting limb development, she was discovered at a military camp in a remote area of Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently adopted by the Indian Army, Devi’s talent for archery was nurtured, leading to her becoming the first armless woman to win a medal at the Para World Archery Championships last year. Devi’s story is a testament to her unwavering determination and the power of human resilience.
