Athletics Paralympics 2024: Archers Sarita Kumari and Sheetal Devi Exit Paralympics
On August 31, 2024, Indian archers Sarita Kumari and Sheetal Devi faced disappointing exits from the archery events at the Paris Paralympics. The day marked a significant setback for India as both athletes, who had shown great promise, were eliminated from the competition.
Sarita Kumari’s Journey Ends in Quarterfinals
Sarita Kumari, hailing from Faridabad, Haryana, had a remarkable run leading up to the quarterfinals. She entered the competition as the ninth seed and showcased her skills in the earlier rounds. In her first match, Sarita dominated against Malaysia’s Nur Jannaton Abdul Jalil, winning decisively with a score of 138-124. She continued her strong performance in the round of 16, defeating Italy’s Eleonora Sarti 141-135, where she established a solid lead from the start.
However, her journey came to an end in the quarterfinals against Turkey’s Oznur Cure Girdi, the top seed who had previously set a world record with a score of 704. In this match, Sarita struggled to keep pace with Oznur, who shot three perfect 10s early on, establishing a five-point lead. Despite Sarita’s efforts, including a flawless fourth end, she could not overcome the deficit, ultimately losing the match.
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Sheetal Devi’s Early Exit
In another disappointing turn, Sheetal Devi, known as the “armless wonder,” faced early elimination in the last-16 stage of the compound women’s open category. Sheetal, who draws her bow with her toes due to being born without arms, had entered the competition as the second seed after an impressive qualification round where she shot 703, just shy of the world record.
In her match against Chile’s Mariana Zuniga, a silver medalist from the Tokyo Paralympics, Sheetal started strong, winning the first set 29-28. However, a critical mistake in the second end, where she scored only 7 points, allowed Zuniga to level the match. The competition remained tight, but in the final moments, Sheetal’s arrow landed in the 8-ring, leading to a heartbreaking loss by just one point, with a final score of 137-138.
The Impact of Their Performances
Both Sarita and Sheetal were considered strong contenders for medals at the Paralympics, especially following their previous successes at the Asian Para Games. Sarita had won a team silver medal, while Sheetal had secured double gold medals in individual and mixed team events. Their early exits were unexpected and have left fans and supporters disheartened.
The performances of these athletes highlight the intense competition at the Paralympics, where every point counts and the pressure is immense. Despite their losses, both Sarita and Sheetal have shown incredible resilience and skill, representing India on a global stage.
