Sheetal Devi Clinches Historic Gold at Para World Archery Championships

India’s para-archer Sheetal Devi created history at the Para World Archery Championships in Gwangju by clinching the women’s compound individual gold medal, marking a significant milestone in her career and for Indian para-sports.

In a closely fought final, Sheetal overcame Turkey’s world No. 1 Oznur Cure Girdi with a score of 146–143. The match began evenly, with both archers tying at 29 in the opening end. Sheetal pulled ahead in the second end, shooting three perfect 10s to establish a lead. Despite a narrow loss in the fourth end, her consistency in the final rounds secured her the title.

This victory was especially sweet as it avenged her narrow defeat to Girdi in the 2023 Pilsen World Championships final. Earlier in the tournament, Sheetal had defeated Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham 145–140 in the semifinals to book her place in the gold medal match.

The championship proved fruitful for the 17-year-old from Jammu & Kashmir, who walked away with three medals. Alongside the individual gold, she teamed up with Sarita in the women’s compound open event to secure a silver medal after losing to Turkey in the final. She also claimed a bronze in the mixed team event with Toman Kumar, defeating Great Britain’s Grinham and Nathan MacQueen 152–149.

While the Indian women’s team showed promise in their final, they faltered in the closing stages against Turkey, settling for silver after a 148–152 defeat.

With her remarkable haul, Sheetal not only showcased exceptional technical skill and calm under pressure but also strengthened India’s standing in international para-archery. Her gold medal triumph highlights her rising stature as one of the most formidable names in the sport.