India’s Rising Star Sheetal Devi Wins Gold in South Korea Para World Archery

Seoul – Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi delivered a historic performance at the Para World Archery Championships in Gwangju on Saturday, securing gold in the women’s compound individual category with a 146-143 victory over Turkiye’s top-ranked Oznur Cure Girdi.

The 18-year-old archer from Jammu and Kashmir displayed nerves of steel in the tense final, holding off the reigning champion to claim her first world title. This win also marked her third medal of the tournament, underscoring her growing stature in global para-archery.

Earlier in the competition, Sheetal teamed up with Toman Kumar to clinch a mixed team bronze, overcoming Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham and Nathan MacQueen 152-149. She also paired with Sarita in the compound women’s open team event, where the Indian duo earned silver after falling to Turkiye 148-152 in the final.

The gold medal clash was a showcase of composure and precision. Sheetal tied the opening end 29-29 before firing three consecutive 10s in the second end to seize control at 59-56. Despite narrowly dropping the fourth end, she maintained her lead at 116-114 and sealed victory with a flawless 30 in the final end.

Her triumph also carried a measure of redemption. The title showdown was a rematch of the 2023 Pilsen World Championships, where Girdi had edged Sheetal 140-138. This time, the Indian archer reversed the result with authority.

In the team final, Sheetal and Sarita started brightly, edging the Turkish duo by a single point in the opening end. But momentum shifted as Turkiye rallied strongly, sealing gold with a near-perfect final round.

Despite the setback, Sheetal’s individual brilliance defined India’s campaign. Her consistency, technical mastery, and mental strength have not only elevated her reputation but also positioned her as one of the brightest young stars in world para-archery.