In-form archer Sheetal Devi reaches final in Khelo India Para Games
New Delhi: Displaying extraordinary skill and determination, Jammu and Kashmir’s star archer Shital Devi has stormed into the gold medal round of the women’s compound archery competition at the inaugural Khelo India Para Games at the JLN Stadium here.
Asian Para Games champion Sheetal confirmed her place in the finals by scoring a total of 696 points.
Sheetal Devi, known for her notable achievements which include two medals at the Para Asian Games in Hangzhou and success at the Para Asian competition in Bangkok, is making waves in the world of para archery. His performance at the Khelo India Para Games cements his position as a force to be reckoned with in the sport.
Jyoti Balayan of Uttar Pradesh also showcased her archery skills as she entered the final round with a score of 686 points, just 10 points behind Sheetal. On Saturday, there will be a fight for the bronze medal between Sarita of Haryana and Tanishka of Delhi.
Sheetal Devi, who competes without arms, displayed unwavering concentration and exceptional skill as she used her legs to handle the bow and arrow. Her journey through the competition has been a joy to watch, and her resilience in the face of challenges is an inspiration.
Among other highlights of the Khelo India Para Games, national champions Kerala continued their stellar run in the Cerebral Palsy football competition with consecutive 21-0 wins against Punjab and Jharkhand. Tamil Nadu also impressed with wins against Manipur (3-1) and Madhya Pradesh (12-0).
In powerlifting, Sunita Dhobi of Rajasthan and Samimben Wahora of Gujarat shared the same weight of 63 kg, Sunita was declared the winner on the basis of classification. In the 107 kg category, a brilliant performance was seen from Pardeep John of Haryana, who lifted 180 kg for the gold.
Para shooting produced a major upset as Rajasthan’s Mona Sharma won the gold medal in the mixed 50m rifle prone SH1 event by defeating Para Asian Games 2023 gold medalist Siddharth Babu. In Para Table Tennis, 1st Para Table Tennis National Ranking Championship champion Lloyd Fernandes of Goa registered an impressive 3-0 win over Pawan Sharma of Haryana in the Men’s Class-2 category.
The Khelo India Para Games continues to be a remarkable performance by Para athletes from across the country showcasing the extraordinary talent and resilience.
