Everyone’s excited about the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics. People are especially watching the archery events. Why? Because of Sheetal Devi, a young star.
Sheetal is only 17, but she’s amazing. She shoots arrows with her toes! In a recent contest, she almost broke a record. She scored 703 points. Now, everyone can’t wait to see her in Paris.
Sheetal’s story is inspiring. She almost won her last big match. It shows she could do great things in Paris. Another Indian archer, Sarita Kumari, is also doing well. She made it to the quarter-finals.
As the Paralympics get closer, people are talking about Sheetal. Her story shows what the Paralympics are all about – beating the odds and doing amazing things.
Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari: A Tough Battle at Paris 2024 Paralympics
Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari, two Indian archers, had a tough time at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. They both showed great skill but lost their matches.
Sheetal Devi fought hard in her match. She went up against Mariana Zuniga from Chile. Mariana won silver in the last Paralympics. The match was very close. They were tied at first. But in the end, Sheetal lost by just one point. The final score was 137-138.
Before this, Sheetal did really well in the qualifying round. She almost set a world record! She scored 703 points and became World No. 1 in her group.
Sarita Kumari also had a tough match. She played against Oznur Cure Girdi from Turkey. Oznur was the top player. Sarita tried her best but lost. The score was 140-145.
So, both Sheetal and Sarita are out of the Paralympics now. But they made India proud. Their hard work will inspire many young athletes in India.
The Paralympic Games – A Global Celebration of Talent
The Paralympic Games are a big sports event for athletes with disabilities. It started small in 1948 with British war veterans. Now, it’s huge! The last one in Tokyo had over 4,500 athletes from 163 countries.
These games have done a lot to include everyone. They’ve changed how people think about disabilities. Now, athletes with many types of disabilities can join. There are 22 summer sports and 6 winter ones.
The Paralympic group works with the Olympic group. This means cities that host the Olympics also host the Paralympics. This has made the Paralympics more popular.
Next up are the Paris 2024 Paralympics. People are getting excited! These games show off amazing athletes. They celebrate different abilities. They also help make the world a better place. Many people find the athletes inspiring.
Archery at the Summer Paralympics
Para archery has been in the Paralympics since 1960 in Rome. It started as a way to help injured war veterans in the 1940s.
There are three main types of para archery:
- Recurve: For athletes with a disability in their upper or lower body. They shoot from 70m away.
- Compound: Also for athletes with upper or lower body disabilities. They shoot from 50m.
- W1: For athletes with disabilities in both upper and lower body. They also shoot from 50m.
Athletes compete alone or in mixed teams. Mixed teams have one man and one woman.
Some cool facts:
- Paola Fantato from Italy has won the most medals in Paralympic archery.
- Zahra Nemati from Iran was the first Iranian to win gold in the Olympics or Paralympics.
- Great Britain has won the most Paralympic archery medals overall.
In 1984, Neroli Fairhall from New Zealand made history. She was the first Paralympic athlete to compete in the Olympics.
Usually, the Paralympic archery uses the same place as the Olympic archery. But in 2012 in London, they were in different places.
Sheetal Devi – A Rising Star
Sheetal Devi is a young para-archer from India. She was born without arms but that didn’t stop her. She learned to shoot arrows with her feet.
Sheetal started archery in 2019. The Indian Army coaches saw her talent and helped her train. In just 11 months, she won two gold medals at the Asian Para Games. That’s amazing!
She’s doing great in world competitions too. In 2023, she won silver and gold medals. She even became the first woman without arms to win a medal at the Para World Championships.
Now, Sheetal is getting ready for the Paris 2024 Paralympics. She trains hard every day. Her big dream is to win a gold medal for India.
People love Sheetal’s story. She’s won awards and inspired many. She believes anyone can do great things if they work hard.
Sheetal says, “If I can do it, anyone else can.” Her coaches helped her find new ways to shoot. She shows that you can do anything if you really want to.
As Sheetal gets ready for Paris, she keeps inspiring people. She proves that you can overcome any challenge if you try hard enough.
Conclusion
Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari. Despite their valiant efforts and impressive performances, including Sheetal’s near-record-breaking qualification score and Sarita’s commendable quarterfinal appearance, both archers faced tough losses that ended their Paralympic journey. Their determination and skill, however, have left a lasting impression and continue to inspire.
The Paralympic Games, which celebrate exceptional athleticism and resilience, have provided a global platform for athletes like Sheetal and Sarita to showcase their talents. Their stories exemplify the spirit of these games—overcoming challenges and striving for greatness. As the world looks forward to Paris 2024, the achievements and perseverance of athletes like Sheetal Devi and Sarita Kumari remind us of the incredible potential within every individual, reinforcing the Paralympics’ role in promoting inclusivity and celebrating diverse abilities.
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