Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar Secure Bronze Medal for India in Archery at the Paris 2024 Paralympics
On Monday, during the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Indian archers Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar showcased exceptional skill and determination by securing the bronze medal in the mixed compound open archery event. The duo triumphed in a thrilling match against Italy’s team, comprising Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina. The contest ended with a narrow victory for India, concluding with a score of 156 to 155.
Demonstrating remarkable composure under pressure, the Indian pair delivered four perfect 10s in the final set, allowing them to reverse the outcome and clinch the bronze medal. This impressive performance not only earned them a podium finish but also equaled the existing Paralympic record of 156 points.
Seventeen-year-old Sheetal Devi made history by becoming India’s youngest-ever Paralympic medalist. Notably, she was the sole female armless archer competing at these Games. Her inspiring journey is underscored by her unique method of shooting, utilizing her legs due to phocomelia, a rare congenital condition that resulted in her arms being underdeveloped.
In contrast, Rakesh Kumar, aged 39, achieved his first medal at the Paralympic Games after years of steadfast dedication to his sport. Prior to this achievement, Kumar was celebrated for his gold medal performance at both the Para World Championships and the Asian Para Games. His journey was marked by personal adversity, as he overcame a life-altering spinal cord injury that left him wheelchair-bound. This setback occurred at a pivotal moment when he was achieving financial independence to support his aging parents. His path to success included a struggle with depression and contemplation of self-harm, all of which he courageously surmounted to return to competitive archery.
The Indian archers also demonstrated their prowess in the quarter-finals by decisively defeating Indonesia’s Teodara Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang with a score of 154 to 143. However, despite their commendable efforts, they faced a setback in the semi-finals, where they were edged out by the Islamic Republic of Iran in a shoot-off, concluding both teams with a tied score of 152.
This medal marks a significant milestone as only the second medal for India in the history of Paralympic archery. The first was secured by Harvinder Singh, who won a bronze medal in the men’s individual recurve open event during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Earlier in the competition, Sheetal Devi had completed the ranking round in second place for the women’s individual compound open archery event, granting her automatic advancement to the round of 16. Unfortunately, her individual journey came to an end in the opening round, where she narrowly lost by a single point.
Overall, the remarkable achievements of Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar at the Paris 2024 Paralympics serve as a testament to their resilience and the potential of athletes with disabilities to excel on the world stage.
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