Indian archers Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar have made a remarkable mark at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. They won the bronze medal in the mixed compound open archery event. In a dramatic final, they narrowly beat Italy’s Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina with a score of 156-155.
Exciting Final Match
The final was intense. Sheetal and Rakesh scored four perfect 10s in the last set, coming from behind to win the bronze. Their score of 156 also matched the Paralympic record for this event.
Historic Achievements
- Sheetal Devi: At 17, Sheetal is India’s youngest Paralympic medallist. She is also the only female armless archer at Paris 2024. Born with phocomelia, a rare condition causing underdeveloped limbs, she uses her legs to shoot.
- Rakesh Kumar: At 39, Rakesh earned his first Paralympic medal after years of success. He is a gold medallist at the Para World Championship and Asian Para Games. Rakesh has overcome significant personal challenges, including a severe spinal cord injury and financial struggles.
Journey to the Medal
Sheetal and Rakesh had a strong performance throughout the competition:
- Quarter-finals: They won against Indonesia’s Teodara Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang with a score of 154-143.
- Semi-finals: They lost in a shoot-off against Iran, with both teams tied at 152.
Significant Milestone
This bronze is only India’s second medal in Paralympic archery. The first was won by Harvinder Singh at Tokyo 2020, who secured bronze in the men’s individual recurve open event.
Individual Events
In the women’s individual compound open archery event, Sheetal finished second in the ranking round, advancing directly to the round of 16. She lost in the opening round by just one point.
Conclusion
Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar’s bronze medal at Paris 2024 is a historic achievement for Indian archery. Their performances showcase their talent and set new standards in the sport. Their success is sure to inspire future generations of para-archers in India.
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