Paralympics 2024 Archery: First-ever compound archery medal for India

Indian para compound archers Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi made history at Les Invalides arena in Paris, on Monday, winning the bronze medal in the mixed team compound archery open category.

Facing Italy in the finals and heading into the final round with a one-point deficit, Rakesh and Devi hit a brilliant 40/40 and won the game with a record score of 156-155.

This is India's second medal in archery at the Paralympics, and the first in the mixed-team category.

Opening their day against the Indonesians Ken Swagumilang and Teodora Ferelly, India breezed past with a comfortable 154-143 victory.

They faced the Iranians in the semis, and despite having the chance to take a big lead in round two, Devi's seven brought the Iranians right back into the match.

The game ended on level terms after four rounds 152-152, and in the shoot-off, despite both teams hitting a perfect 20/20, Iran's Fatemeh hit the absolute dead center and because of that, Iran proceeded to the finals, leaving India to play the bronze medal match against Italy.

The bronze medal match too started in the Italians' favor, after three rounds they were up by one point.

But a resilient Rakesh and Devi came up with a brilliant 40/40 in their final two arrows each, whereas the Italians could only manage 38/40, thereby sealing the bronze medal for India.

Sheetal Devi, regarded as India's next big thing in para-archery, is now a Paralympic medalist at just 17 years old.

Rakesh Kumar, the world no.1 and the reigning world champion, adds a Paralympic medal to his name as well.