Armless archer Sheetal Devi misses World Record by a whisker, finishes 2nd with personal best in Paris Paralympics Ranking Round

India's star para archer Sheetal Devi narrowly missed breaking the world record on August 29 at the Paralympics 2024. Despite scoring an impressive 703 points in the ranking round of the women's individual compound competition, Sheetal was overtaken by her opponent in the final shot of the qualification round.

Sheetal Devi misses out on World Record at Paralympics 2024

Both Sheetal and her opponent surpassed the previous records held by Jessica Stretton (694 points in Para Games) and Phoebe Paterson (698 points world record), securing their places in the Round of 32. Sheetal maintained her position among the top two archers throughout the ranking round. She demonstrated exceptional consistency in the second half of the shooting, surpassing Brazil's Karla Gogel and Turkey's Oznur Cure. However, in her final attempt, Sheetal shot a 9, finishing with 703 points and narrowly missing the top spot.

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Women's individual compound archery ranking round results

Cure Girdi Oznur (Turkey) - 704 points (56 10s and 29 Xs)
Sheetal Devi (India) - 703 points (59 10s and 24 Xs)
Fatemeh Hemmati (Iran) - 696 points (48 10s and 22 Xs)
Grinham Jodie (Great Britain) - 693 points (47 10s and 14 Xs)
Gogel Jane Karla (Brazil) - 691 points (47 10s and 15 Xs) 

Sheetal Devi's personal best of 703 points was surpassed by Oznur, who scored a perfect series in her final attempt, finishing with 704 points. The top two archers were significantly ahead of the rest of the field, with Fatemah Hemmati and Jodie Grinham placing third and fourth with 696 and 693 points respectively. The previous world record holder, Phoebe Paterson, finished in seventh place with 688 points, which was also her best performance of the season.

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Sheetal Devi, an Indian archer born with a rare congenital condition called phocomelia, serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration in a world that celebrates determination and resilience. Despite her physical limitations, Sheetal has defied all odds to achieve remarkable success in para archery.

Sheetal's journey began in her small village in Jammu and Kashmir, where she developed a passion for climbing trees and demonstrated a strong determination to overcome her challenges. Her innate athleticism was recognized by Indian Army coaches during a youth event in 2021, who saw immense potential in her. While initially attempting to use prosthetics, Sheetal's coaches were inspired by the story of Matt Stutzman, an armless archer who won a silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympics. They decided to train her using her legs and feet, resulting in extraordinary achievements.

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Within just one year of training, Sheetal Devi made a significant impact on the international stage. She won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games, and her silver medal at the World Archery Para Championships 2023 in the Czech Republic secured a quota for India at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Her remarkable achievements have earned her the top ranking globally in the compound open women's division, positioning her as a strong contender for gold at the Paralympics.

Sheetal's determination and skill have not gone unnoticed. She was awarded the Arjuna Award in January 2024, one of India's highest honors for sportspeople. Her coaches, Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Vedwan, have played a crucial role in her success, and her fellow archer Romica Sharma has provided unwavering support, assisting with daily tasks and offering emotional encouragement during competitions.

As Sheetal prepares for the Paralympics, her story serves as a testament to the power of the human spirit and the importance of perseverance. Despite the challenges she faces, Sheetal remains focused on her goal of winning gold, and her journey serves as an inspiration to para-athletes worldwide.

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