Gwangju (South Korea), Sep 27: Eighteen-year-old armless archer Sheetal Devi captured the world’s attention by defeating Turkey’s world No. 1 Oznur Cure Girdi with a score of 146-143 to clinch the gold medal in the women’s compound individual category at the Para World Archery Championship.
This remarkable feat, achieved on Saturday, marks a significant milestone for Sheetal, who stands as the only armless archer in the competition. Utilizing her feet and chin to shoot, she showcased her incredible talent, earning her third medal at the championships.
Sheetal had previously secured a mixed team bronze alongside Toman Kumar, triumphing over Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham and Nathan MacQueen with a score of 152-149. In the compound women’s open team event, however, she and her partner Sarita settled for silver against the Turkish archers in a tightly contested final.
The individual final displayed Sheetal’s focus and determination. The opening end ended in a tie at 29-all, yet she rebounded strongly to win the second end with three perfect 10s, moving ahead with a score of 30-27.
Despite experiencing a minor setback in the fourth end, where she scored 28 while Girdi notched 29, Sheetal maintained a crucial two-point lead at 116-114. The 18-year-old sealed her victory by finishing with a flawless score of 30 in the final end, showcasing her exceptional skill.
Before this momentous victory, the Jammu and Kashmir native, Sheetal, earned her place in the finals by defeating Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham in a semifinal match, with a convincing score of 145-140. The title match witnessed a redemption arc for Sheetal, who previously lost to Girdi at the 2023 Pilsen World Championships.
Reliving the tension of that previous defeat, Sheetal’s return to the finals proved her growth in skill and virtuosity as she effectively avenged her earlier loss against the top competitor.
While Sheetal excelled in the individual categories, the duo event with Sarita was unforgiving. They led initially but ultimately earned silver after losing 148-152 to the Turkish pair of Girdi and Bursa Fatma Un. The Indian archers started strong, edging the Turkish team 38-37 in the first end with three 10s among their first four arrows.
However, Turkey regained their footing in the second end by firing three 10s and outscoring India by one point, creating a buzz in the arena as they leveled at 76-all. Yet, nerves seemed to plague the Indian archers in the critical third end, causing them to shoot below their potential. India scored 36 compared to Turkey’s 37, resulting in Turkey seizing a lead.
In the final end, Girdi and Un demonstrated unparalleled precision, hitting 39 out of a possible 40. In a heart-wrenching turn, the Indian team faltered, landing only a 36, which included an unfortunate arrow in the 7-ring, leading to Turkey securing the gold with a four-point margin. Sheetal’s historic win resonates as an inspiration, proving that limitations do not hinder potential.
