Paris, September 2024: In a historic moment for Indian archery, Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar clinched the bronze medal in the para-archery mixed team compound event at the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024. The Indian duo made headlines by becoming the first Indian pair to win an archery medal at the Paralympic Games, defeating the Italian team of Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina by a razor-thin margin of 156-155.
The journey to the bronze was anything but easy. Sheetal and Rakesh found themselves trailing 38-40 after the first end. However, the pair displayed immense resilience, hitting 10s in the second end to take the maximum 40 points and closing the gap. Despite a nail-biting back-and-forth, they entered the final end trailing by just one point, 116-117. In the decisive moment, the Indian archers delivered a flawless performance, scoring another perfect 40 points, while the Italian team managed 38. This secured a thrilling come-from-behind victory, giving India its second-ever Paralympics archery medal.
Sheetal Devi, born without arms, and Rakesh Kumar, who has been paralyzed from the waist down since an accident in 2010, have both overcome incredible challenges to reach this point. Their success in Paris is not just a testament to their talent, but also to their determination and spirit.
Sheetal, who hails from Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, was discovered by the Indian Army in 2019 and has since become a global sensation. Under the guidance of coach Kuldeep Vedwan, she has been a force to reckon with, winning a silver medal at the 2023 World Archery Para Championship.
Rakesh Kumar, from Katra in Jammu and Kashmir, also trained under Kuldeep Kumar and has been a dedicated archer despite the life-altering accident that left him wheelchair-bound. His journey from contemplating suicide to winning a Paralympic medal is an inspiring story of triumph over adversity.
Their victory is a proud moment for India and a significant milestone in the history of Indian archery.
