Manashimaya
In a day of intense emotions at the Paris Paralympics 2024 archery arena, India faced a heartbreaking exit as both Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari saw their promising campaigns come to an end. The event, which had all eyes on these two remarkable athletes, concluded with a bittersweet outcome, marking an early exit for the duo in the compound women’s open category.
Paris Paralympics 2024 Archery: Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari Face Early Exit became the talk of the town as Faridabad’s Sarita Kumari, who had shown immense promise throughout the competition, bowed out in the quarterfinals. Seeded ninth, Sarita had a strong run, dominating her initial rounds with a commanding performance. Her journey, however, was halted by the top-seed Oznur Cure Girdi of Korea. Oznur, who had set a new world record in the qualifiers with a staggering score of 704 out of 720, proved to be a formidable opponent. Despite Sarita’s best efforts, including a perfect fourth end, she couldn’t bridge the gap, and Oznur secured her spot in the semifinals.
On the other hand, Paris Paralympics 2024 Archery: Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari Face Early Exit also saw the exit of the armless wonder, Sheetal Devi. Competing in the last-16 round, Sheetal, who drew her arrow with her toes, faced a tough challenge against Tokyo silver medallist Mariana Zuniga of Chile. Sheetal had made a strong start, leading the first end, but a costly 7-point shot in the second end allowed Zuniga to level the scores. The match remained incredibly close, with both archers showcasing their skill and determination. Unfortunately, in the final arrow, Sheetal’s shot slipped to the 8-ring, allowing Zuniga to edge her out by a single point, ending her Paralympic debut.
The Paris Paralympics 2024 Archery: Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari Face Early Exit was a significant moment in the tournament, especially given the expectations surrounding Sheetal Devi. A double gold medallist at the Asian Para Games, Sheetal had entered the competition with high hopes, particularly after surpassing the previous world record with a score of 703 in the qualifiers. Her journey, though cut short, was a testament to her extraordinary abilities and spirit.
Sarita Kumari’s performance was equally commendable. Earlier in the day, she had comfortably defeated Italy’s Eleonora Sarti in a one-sided pre-quarterfinals match, securing a 141-135 victory. Sarita’s impressive run, which included a team silver medal at the Asian Para Games, showcased her consistency and focus, even as she faced higher-ranked opponents. Her quarterfinal clash with Oznur was a display of grit and resilience, as she matched the Korean archer’s intensity end by end.
Paris Paralympics 2024 Archery: Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari Face Early Exit will be remembered as a day of what-ifs for Indian archery. Both Sarita and Sheetal demonstrated their calibre on the world stage, and while the results may not have gone in their favour, their performances have inspired countless fans and fellow athletes.
As the dust settles on this chapter of the India can take pride in the fact that their athletes continue to push boundaries and break barriers, laying the groundwork for future success on the global stage.
