Nagoya: Jammu and Kashmir’s Sheetal Devi delivered a record-equalling performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on Monday, scoring 704 points in the women’s compound archery qualification round to equal the world record and set a new Asian record, as India made an impressive start to the continental sporting event.
The 19-year-old archer, a Paris Paralympics bronze medallist from Jammu and Kashmir, registered 57 perfect 10s from 72 arrows, including 32 shots in the innermost scoring zone, to surpass the previous Asian record of 698 points by six points. Her score equalled the world record set by Türkiye’s Oznur Girdi at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Sheetal also improved her own Asian Para Games record of 680 points, set at Hangzhou in 2023, where she won two gold medals in the individual and mixed team events and a silver in doubles.
Her performance, combined with an impressive showing by Asian Games debutant Payal, helped India top the women’s compound team qualification standings with 1,379 points, ahead of China’s 1,338. Payal scored 675 points to finish fifth in the individual qualification round. The Indian team secured direct entry into the semifinals.
India’s para-athletes also collected six medals, including three gold, two silver and one bronze, on the opening day of athletics competitions at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. Hosts Japan led the athletics medal tally with eight medals, comprising three gold, three silver and two bronze.
Nishad Kumar opened India’s gold-medal account by winning the men’s long jump T47 event with an effort of 7.11 metres. The two-time Paralympic silver medallist achieved the mark in both his third and fifth attempts in his first competitive outing in the event. He is also scheduled to compete in his speciality, the high jump T47, on Tuesday.
Soumya won gold in the women’s 1,500-metre T12/T13 event in her Asian Para Games debut, while compatriot Radha Venkatesh secured silver, giving India a one-two finish. Soumya clocked 5 minutes 12.39 seconds, while Radha finished in 5:30.90. The final positions were determined through a combined classification points system for athletes with visual impairments.
India’s third athletics gold came through Rinku Hooda in the men’s javelin F46 event. His throw of 65.11 metres edged compatriot Ajeet Singh, who recorded 65.02 metres, into second place. Indonesia’s R Saktyono won bronze with a throw of 55.30 metres.
Ravanni Valasanaini added a bronze in the women’s T11 event after the original third-place finisher, Rakshitha Raju, was disqualified for a technical violation.
Sheetal’s record-equalling performance and India’s strong start in athletics have strengthened the country’s campaign at the Asian Para Games, with archery elimination rounds and further athletics events scheduled to follow. (With inputs from PTI)
