In a moment of immense pride for the nation and her hometown, 17-year-old Sheetal Devi, hailing from the Chenab Valley’s Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, made history at the 2024 Paralympic Games by securing a bronze medal in the mixed team compound archery competition. Alongside her teammate Rakesh Kumar, the young archer triumphed in a thrilling 156-155 victory over Italy’s Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina, marking only the second time India has won a Paralympic medal in archery.
Sheetal’s journey from the remote region of Kishtwar to the world stage is nothing short of inspirational. She has now etched her name in history as the first Indian woman to win an archery medal at the Paralympics, also becoming one of the youngest medalists in India’s Paralympic history.
The bronze medal match was a rollercoaster, with the Indian pair trailing by a point as the competition neared its conclusion. Despite the pressure, Sheetal and Rakesh showcased remarkable composure. Their final round of arrows, scored at 10, 9, 10, 10, brought their total to 155 points, matching Italy’s tally, as per reports reaches The Chenab Times. It was a tense moment as the judges reviewed Sheetal’s last arrow, initially scored as a 9. The revision to a 10 tipped the balance in India’s favor, securing the bronze medal.
Earlier in the day, the Indian duo faced a heartbreaking defeat in the semifinals against Iran’s Fatemeh Hemmati and Hadi Nori. The closely contested match went to a shoot-off, where the Indians were narrowly edged out after a score revision. Despite the setback, Sheetal’s resilience, rooted in her upbringing amidst the challenging terrains of Kishtwar, shone through in the bronze medal match.
Coach Kuldeep Vedhwan praised both archers, particularly highlighting Sheetal’s determination and skill under pressure.
As the nation celebrates this historic win, the people of Kishtwar, in particular, are beaming with pride, inspired by their hometown hero who has proven that with dedication and hard work, no goal is beyond reach.
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