Para Games: Sheetal Devi equals world record, sets new Asian mark with 704 points

Asian Para Games: Sheetal Devi equals world record in compound archery

India’s Sheetal Devi delivered a record-breaking performance in the women’s compound archery qualification round at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Monday, scoring 704 out of a possible 720 points to equal the world record and establish a new Asian record.The 19-year-old archer from Jammu and Kashmir produced an exceptional display of accuracy, hitting 57 perfect 10s across her 72 arrows, including 32 Xs, which mark shots landing in the target’s innermost scoring zone.Her score surpassed the previous Asian record of 698 by six points, setting a new benchmark in the continental competition. The world record of 704 was established by Turkiye’s Oznur Girdi at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.Sheetal, a Paris Paralympics bronze medallist and reigning Asian Games champion, also eclipsed her own Asian Para Games record of 680, which she had set at Hangzhou in 2023. At that edition, she won two gold medals in the individual and mixed team events, along with a silver in doubles.She had raised the Asian record to 698 in March this year before taking it a step further with Monday’s record-equalling effort in Nagoya.

Payal makes impressive Asian Games debut

India also received a strong performance from debutant Payal, who scored 675 points in the women’s compound qualification round to finish fifth and bolster the country’s medal prospects in the individual and team competitions.The quadruple amputee from Odisha had attracted attention in April after defeating Sheetal on her way to winning gold at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok.

Their performances combined to give India the top spot in the women’s compound team qualification standings.

Sheetal and Payal accumulated 1,379 points, finishing comfortably ahead of China, who managed 1,338.India’s position at the top secured the pair a direct entry into the semifinals. They will take on the winners of the quarterfinal between fifth-seeded Thailand and fourth-seeded Kazakhstan, with victory taking them into the medal round.Sheetal’s historic qualification score and Payal’s encouraging debut have given India a strong platform as the archery competition moves into the knockout stages.