Indian Duo's Stellar Progress in Paris Paralympics Archery

The Indian pair, Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar, advanced to the semifinals of the mixed team compound open archery event at the Paris Paralympics by defeating Indonesia. They will next face Iran. Both have overcome significant personal challenges: Sheetal has a congenital condition, and Rakesh is a spinal injury survivor.

The Indian duo of Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar showed exceptional coordination and skill, progressing to the semifinals with a 154-143 victory over Indonesia's Teodora Audi Ayudia Ferellyin and Ken Swagumilang in the mixed team compound open archery quarterfinals at the Paris Paralympics held on Monday.

As top seeds in the mixed compound open event, Sheetal and Rakesh will now face Iran's Fatemeh Hemmati and Hadi Nori in the semifinals. The Iranian team had previously edged out Brazil's Jane Karla Gogel and Reinaldo Vagner Charao Ferreira 153-151 in their own quarterfinal clash.

The Indian pair clinched their quarterfinal victory with a perfect 40 in the fourth and final end. Sheetal, only 17 years old, was born with phocomelia, a rare condition affecting limb development, while 39-year-old Rakesh has overcome a debilitating spinal cord injury that left him wheelchair-bound following his recovery in 2009. On Sunday, Rakesh narrowly missed a bronze medal in the men's compound open category, losing to China's He Zihao by one point.

(With inputs from agencies.)