Sheetal Devi Reaches Final, Sarita Eyes Bronze As India Target Multiple Medals

Reigning world champion and world number one Sheetal Devi stormed into the women’s compound individual final at the World Archery Para Series Stage III in Ahmedabad on Monday, assuring India of another medal on home soil.

In an all-Indian semifinal, the 19-year-old armless archer from Jammu and Kashmir defeated compatriot Sarita 145-143 to book her place in the gold-medal clash. Sheetal will face Kazakhstan’s Aizada Seidan in the final on Wednesday, September 9.

Sheetal entered the knockout stage in outstanding form after topping qualification with a season-best 698 points, improving her own Asian record by one point. She also combined with Rakesh Kumar to set a new world record of 1,400 points in the compound mixed-team qualification, bettering their previous mark by one point.

Sarita will have another opportunity to add to India’s medal tally when she takes on China’s Wang Huiting in the bronze-medal match.

India also remained in contention in the men’s compound event. Reigning world champion Toman Kumar lost his semifinal to Indonesia’s top seed Ken Swagumilang 144-146 and will now fight Iraq’s Abbas Kadhim for bronze. Earlier, Swagumilang defeated another Indian, Gurwinder Singh, 143-141 in the quarterfinals.

India’s campaign in the W1 men’s section ended in the quarterfinals. Adil Mohamed Nazir Ansari lost to Czechia’s Paralympic medallist David Drahoninsky in a shoot-off, while Nurudin was beaten 2-6 by China’s Yang Xupeng.

In the W1 women’s section, Swati Chaudhary remains in medal contention after losing 1-7 to China’s Liu Jing. She will compete for bronze.

The Ahmedabad event, being held from September 5 to 9, is India’s first international hosting of a World Archery Para Series stage and features athletes from 19 countries.