Nagoya, Oct 19 : India’s para-archery star Sheetal Devi equalled the world record in the women’s compound qualification round at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Monday. The 19-year-old scored 704 points out of a possible 720, setting a new Asian record and helping India finish at the top of the women’s compound team qualification standings.
The archer from Jammu and Kashmir delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 57 perfect 10s from 72 arrows, including 32 Xs, which represent shots landing in the innermost scoring zone of the target.
Sheetal surpassed the previous Asian record of 698 points by six points. She equalled the world record of 704 points set by Türkiye’s Oznur Girdi at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
The reigning Asian Games champion also broke her own Asian Para Games record of 680 points, which she set at Hangzhou in 2023. At that edition, Sheetal won two gold medals in the individual and mixed team events and a silver medal in doubles.
She had improved the Asian record to 698 points in March this year before producing another record-equalling performance in Nagoya.
Payal Impresses on Asian Games Debut
Indian archer Payal also delivered an impressive performance in the women’s compound qualification round on her Asian Games debut. She scored 675 points to finish fifth, strengthening India’s chances in the individual and team competitions.
The quadruple amputee from Odisha gained attention in April this year after defeating Sheetal to win gold at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok.
The combined scores of Sheetal Devi and Payal helped India secure first place in the women’s compound team qualification standings with 1,379 points. China finished second with 1,338 points.
India’s strong performance earned the team direct qualification for the semifinals. The Indian pair will face the winners of the quarterfinal between fifth-seeded Thailand and fourth-seeded Kazakhstan. A victory would take India into the medal round.
Sheetal’s world record-equalling performance and Payal’s impressive debut have given India a significant boost ahead of the elimination rounds at the Asian Para Games.
