Sheetal Devi Wins Two Gold Medals in Two Hours at Asian Para Gamesਸ਼ੀਤਲ ਦੇਵੀ ਨੇ ਏਸ਼ਿਆਈ ਪੈਰਾ ਖੇਡਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੋ ਘੰਟਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਿੱਤੇ ਦੋ ਸੋਨ ਤਗਮੇ

Sheetal Devi turned the disappointment of a lost final into the best day of her Asian Para Games in Nagoya. The 19-year-old world number one, who competes without arms and shoots using her feet, shoulder and jaw, won two gold medals within two hours on Thursday. She first partnered Toman Kumar to the compound mixed team title, and then returned to the range to win the women's compound individual gold, beating Singapore's Alim Nur Syahidah 142-139 in a repeat of their Hangzhou final.

A comeback in the individual final

The individual final did not start her way. Devi trailed 55-59 against Alim, the archer she had beaten for gold at the Hangzhou Games. She responded with six consecutive tens, four of them inner tens, to turn the match around and win 142-139, collecting her fourth Asian Para Games gold medal and her second consecutive individual title at the Games. 'Yesterday, with Mata Rani's blessings, the silver came and today two golds have come. We work hard for this for the whole year and the results come on such days,' Devi told The Indian Express in an audio message from Japan, adding that she was glad to meet the expectations people had of her despite the pressure.

Mixed team gold, and a silver the day before

Earlier on Thursday, Devi and Toman Kumar won the compound mixed team final against Indonesia 151-148, defending the title India had won at the previous Games. The gold rush came a day after a near miss: on Wednesday, Devi and Payal Nag lost the women's doubles final and had to settle for silver, the same result the pair recorded at Hangzhou. Devi had wanted the doubles title this time, and after the loss she spoke to her coach Gaurav Sharma and spent time with her mother Shakti Devi, who is travelling with her in Japan, before resetting for Thursday's two finals. She leaves the archery competition with three medals: two gold and one silver.

A week of world records

Thursday's golds capped a week in which Devi had already rewritten the record books. In qualification she shot 704 out of 720, equalling the world record set by Turkey's Oznur Cure at the Paris Paralympics. Her score, combined with her partner's 698, also gave India a new mixed team world record. On her way to the final she broke the individual match world record, held by Britain's Jessica Stretton since 2019, with 149 in her 149-134 pre-quarterfinal win over Hong Kong's Chan Yuen Wah, and then beat home favourite Shinohara Aya in the semifinals.

How her coach reads the wind and the moment

National coach Gaurav Sharma said the windy conditions in Nagoya forced constant adjustment, including aiming off towards nine o'clock to counter a wind blowing from three o'clock during the individual final. He said Devi's training includes specialist sessions for shoot-offs and single inner tens, so that the shots she needs in a crisis are rehearsed long before the final. 'My message to her after every match is: learn from every win and learn from every loss too,' Sharma said. Devi trains at Patiala with leading able-bodied archers, including 2023 world team champion Parneet Kaur, and has been competing in able-bodied events since last year, a deliberate part of the plan as compound mixed team archery prepares to make its debut at the Los Angeles Olympics.

Part of a big day for India

Devi's double was the headline act of a strong fourth day for India at the Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where India's overall tally climbed to 88 medals, including 21 gold. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated her on the two gold medals. Born in Loidhar village in Kishtwar district, Devi won bronze at the Paris Paralympics in 2024, and at 19 she now has matching gold medal sets from two consecutive Asian Para Games.

How did Sheetal Devi win her two gold medals?

She first won the compound mixed team title with Toman Kumar, beating Indonesia 151-148, and less than two hours later beat Singapore's Alim Nur Syahidah 142-139 in the individual final after trailing 55-59.

What records did she set earlier in the week?

She equalled the qualification world record with 704 out of 720, helped set a new mixed team world record, and broke the individual match world record with a score of 149 in the pre-quarterfinals.

Who is Sheetal Devi?

Devi, 19, is the world number one women's compound para archer from Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir. Born without arms, she shoots with her feet, shoulder and jaw, and won bronze at the Paris Paralympics in 2024.

What is next for her?

Her coaches are preparing her for compound mixed team archery's debut at the Los Angeles Olympics. She is also competing in able-bodied events and trials alongside her para archery programme.