Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games champion archer Sheetal Devi was among the highlights on the opening day of the qualifying rounds of the 8th Fazza Para-Archery world ranking tournament in Dubai on Tuesday. The event serves as the final qualifying tournament for the Paris Paralympics.
Some of the world finest archers including Paralympic and World champions are in action this week at the Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds. The 17-year-old armless Indian archer was seeded number one in women compound open after the qualifying rounds.
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Sheetal shot a total of 348 out of 360 to take the pole position in the qualifying round which was played in warm and windy conditions. “It’s nice to be back on the shooting line. I love to shoot competitions. There was some wind today but it’s okay for me,” she said.
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Jonathon Milne (Australia), Elisabetta Mijno (Italy), Samuel Molina (Mexico), Mohammadreza Zandi (Iran) and Tereza Brandtlova (Czech Republic) were others to be ranked the top seeds in men compound open, women and men’s recurve open and wheelchair open events.
Later, the promising Sheetal paired with Rakesh Kumar in the Compound Open Mixed Team and put up a strong show with several 10s and Xs in her card. However, the pair lost the semi-finals against Turkey 148-145 after a poor five from Kumar ruined their chances. Turkey will face the USA in the Compound Open Mixed Team finals.
In the Recurve Open Mixed Team, Italy will face Japan in the finals, while Czech Republic will play Italy in the W1 Mixed Team final, all of which will be played on Thursday. In the Intercontinental Africa Oceania event, Australia secured four quotas on the day.
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