Paris Paralympics 2024 Archery Paralympics: Heartbreak for India as Archers Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari Exit Competition
India’s archery Paralympics campaign at the Paris Paralympics 2024 faced a setback as Sarita Kumari’s impressive run was halted in the quarterfinals, and Sheetal Devi, known for her extraordinary talent despite being armless, was eliminated in the last-16 round of the compound women ‘is open category.
Sarita Kumari’s Quarterfinal Journey Ends
Sarita had earlier outperformed Nur Jannaton Abdul Jalil of Malaysia with a 138-124 win in her opening match.
However, Sarita’s journey was cut short in the quarterfinals when she faced Turkey’s top-seeded Oznur Cure Girdi. Oznur, who set a new world record by scoring 704 out of a possible 720 points in the qualifying rounds, proved a formidable opponent. She shot three perfect 10s in the second end, establishing a strong five-point lead over Sarita. Despite Sarita’s efforts to fight back, including matching Oznur’s perfect score in the fourth end, the Turkish archer maintained her lead and concluded the match with a 29-point finish in the fifth end, sealing her victory.
Sheetal Devi’s Early Exit After a Hard-Fought Battle
Sheetal Devi, a remarkable archer who draws her bow using her toes, faced a narrow defeat in the pre-quarterfinals against Mariana Zuniga of Chile, a silver medalist from the Tokyo Paralympics. Sheetal, who had previously surpassed the former world record by scoring 703, received a bye into the last-16 round, raising hopes for a strong finish.
Starting the match on a high note, Sheetal took the first end with a 29-28 lead. However, a misstep in the second end, where she hit the 7-point red ring, allowed Zuniga to even the score at 55-55. The contest remained fiercely competitive, with both archers matching each other shot for shot in the subsequent ends. In a tense final moment, Zuniga shot a 9, while Sheetal’s arrow landed in the 8-ring, resulting in a narrow 137-138 defeat for the Indian archer.
The Challenge of the Open Class Event: Archery Paralympics
In the Paralympic archery open class, competitors shoot from a seated position at 50 meters, aiming at an 80cm five-ring target with point bands ranging from 10 to 6 points. This challenging format tests the precision and consistency of the archers, making every point crucial in high-stakes matches.
Looking Ahead
While the early exits of Sarita Kumari and Sheetal Devi were disappointing for the Indian team, their performances still showcased the talent and determination of Indian para-athletes. Both archers will look to build on their experiences from the Paris Paralympics as they prepare for future competitions, aiming to bring glory to the nation in the sport of archery.