Indian 17-year-old Sheetal Devi topped compound women’s qualifying at the Fazza para archery world ranking event yesterday, shooting 679 out of a possible 720 points to total one point more than Öznur Cüre, the archer who beat her to the world title last year in Pilsen.
Jonathon Milne (Australia), Elisabetta Mijno (Italy), Samuel Molina (Mexico), Mohammadreza Zandi (Iran) and Tereza Brandtlova (Czech Republic) also collcted top seeds.
Armless archer Devi, who became Asian Para Games Champion at the end of 2023, dropped just 12 points over her first 36 arrows in Dubai (348/360), and did just enough over a blustery back half to remain in pole.
“It’s nice to be back on the shooting line. I love to shoot competition,” she said. “There was some wind today but it’s okay for me.”
Devi is expected to compete at her first Paralympic Games later this summer and India has already secured the maximum two quota places in the compound women’s category for Paris 2024.
Plenty of nations still need tickets – and will compete for the handful remaining during this week’s event, which doubles up as a continental qualifier for the Africa and Oceania regions and the final world qualifier, with two spots available in each of the six competition categories (recurve, compound and W1 for men and women).
