Shital broke the Para Games and world record while participating in the ranking round and scored 703 points, but was overtaken by her opponent in the final shot of the qualification round. Turkey’s Oznur Girdi Kure had set the ranking round world record with 704 points. Devi’s score surpassed the world record of 698 set by Great Britain’s Phoebe Paine Peterson earlier this month.
Target 1: Oznur Cure – 704. 🇹🇷
Target 2: Sheetal Devi – 703. 🇮🇳
One decisive arrow to set the WORLD RECORD. 🔥#ArcheryInParis #BeforeArchey pic.twitter.com/jMAJJjsfNT— World Archery (@worldarchery) August 29, 2024
Both these players broke the previous records of Jessica Stratton (694 points in Para Games) and Phoebe Patterson (698 points in WR) and qualified for the Round of 32. Previous record holder Patterson finished seventh with 688 points, which was her best attempt this season.
Sheetal Devi of India was born with a rare congenital disease called phocomelia. After this, she has overcome all the obstacles to become a champion in the world of para archery. Phocomelia or Amelia is a rare condition in which the hands and feet remain very small. It is a type of congenital disorder.
17-year-old Sheetal belongs to Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir. In her childhood, she had a passion for climbing trees. Where she also challenged her physical limitations. In a youth event in the year 2021, Indian Army coaches tested her innate athletic ability and saw immense potential in her.
Despite initial attempts to use prosthetic limbs, Sheetal’s coach was inspired by the story of Matt Stutzman, an armless archer who won a silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympics. He decided to train Sheetal using her feet and toes, and the results that followed were nothing short of a major achievement.
She became a sensation during the Hangzhou Asian Para Games in China last year, where she became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in the same season of the Games. She also won a silver medal in the Games. Devi also became the first armless woman to win a medal in the Para World Archery Championships last year.