Eighteen-year-old Indian armless archer Sheetal Devi victory at the Para World Archery Championship in Gwangju marked a historic moment for Indian sports. Sheetal defeated Turkiye’s world number one Oznur Cure Girdi 146-143 to claim the women’s compound individual gold, showcasing exceptional skill using her feet and chin. This was her third medal of the championships, having earlier won a mixed team bronze with Toman Kumar and a team silver alongside Sarita.
Historic Individual Final
The individual final was a thrilling contest. The first end ended 29-all, but Sheetal surged ahead with three perfect 10s in the second end, winning it 30-27. Despite a minor slip in the fourth end, she maintained a lead and sealed her maiden gold with three flawless arrows in the final end. In the semifinals, she had earlier beaten Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham 145-140, avenging her narrow defeat to Girdi at the 2023 Pilsen World Championships.
Team Event Performance
In the compound women’s open team final, Sheetal and Sarita started strong but lost 148-152 to Turkey. The Indian duo led early but fell behind as the Turkish pair maintained consistency, highlighting Sheetal’s resilience across multiple events. Her performance in individual and team events demonstrated remarkable composure and determination.
FAQs on Sheetal Devi Gold Medal
Q1: How did Sheetal Devi win her gold medal?
A: Sheetal Devi gold medal came after defeating Turkiye’s world No.1 Oznur Cure Girdi 146-143 at the Para World Archery Championship.
Q2: How many medals has Sheetal Devi won at this championship?
A: She won three medals, including gold, silver, and bronze across individual, team, and mixed events.
Q3: What makes Sheetal Devi unique in archery?
A: Sheetal is India’s only armless archer, shooting using her feet and chin in international competitions.
Q4: Did Sheetal Devi avenge a previous defeat?
A: Yes, she defeated Oznur Cure Girdi, reversing her narrow loss from the 2023 Pilsen World Championships.
