Victory in Paris: Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar's Remarkable Win

Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar astounded the world, taking the bronze in the mixed compound archery event at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Their stunning performance was historic; they tied the Paralympic record in the bronze medal match.  Sheetal, the only armless female archer in the Games, awed the audience and underpinned her talent internationally with this medal, while the event mark another milestone for Rakesh Kumar, carrying forward his long-standing, consistent international performances.

A dramatic victory ensued against Italy's Eleonara Sarti and Matteo Bonacina with a close 156-155 win, where the duo had to pull out all the stops to emerge victoriously. Their triumphant zeal was evident having had to recover from a 116-117 trail in the final set to end with four tens from four arrows. Such intensity and precision illuminate the championship's unique essence, where consistency and accuracy, not just recovery, distinguish the winners.

Continuing their successful run, Sheetal and Rakesh delivered a powerful quarterfinal win over Indonesia's Teodara Ferelly and Ken Swagumilang, leading by such a margin that they bagged the win with an arrow to spare. However, they narrowly missed their entry to the finals after losing a shootoff to Iran in the semifinal. Their consistency, tranquillity and determination shone through as they secured the bronze medal by winning a highly charged final match.

The journey to this prestigious platform was not smooth for either athlete. Born with a rare medical condition called phocomelia, Sheetal showed an indomitable spirit. Devoid of functional arms, she devised a way to hold a bow with her legs, exhibiting her strength and distinct archery skills. Notwithstanding, her journey to the spotlight required not just personal will but also collective efforts by coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Wadhwan, and the army who took over her training.