The old guard of Rakesh Kumar, 40, and Jyoti Baliyan, 30, claimed medals while teenage sensations Sheetal, 18, and Payal, 17, also shone on the podium in the compound open events. Jharkhand\u2019s Vijay Sundi beat Haryana\u2019s Vikas Bhakar 6-4 in the men\u2019s recurve open gold medal match while Haryana\u2019s Pooja beat Maharashtra\u2019s Rajshri Rathod 6-4 in the women\u2019s recurve open gold medal match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
All eyes were on the women\u2019s compound gold medal match. Sheetal Devi started with a score of 8 and 7 while Payal opened with double 10s. Payal, 17, however, lost the upper hand in the third round where she shot a 7 for the first time and Sheetal got back to her consistent best of 9s and 10s. The deciding fifth round saw Sheetal clinching the gold at the Khelo India Para Games 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFirstly, Payal played very well in the final, and with her continuous hard work, she will definitely get a medal for India soon. Personally, I am grateful for all the blessings bestowed by Mata Rani that I won my second gold medal at the Khelo India Para Games,\u201d Sheetal was quoted as saying by SAI Media in a release on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The soft-spoken Payal, who radiates childish innocence, spoke about the technical aspects following her competition in her first Khelo India Para Games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEarlier, I used to shoot the arrows with two devices in my prosthetic legs but now, I\u2019m shooting with just one leg. It was a problem adjusting but I still reached the final despite the discomfort and also there were a lot of windy conditions today. But I am happy to have competed in the final and got the silver,\" she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As per her coach Kuldeep Vedwan, Payal got a rebirth in para-archery after getting the new device a month back. \u201cSince she is the first woman archer in the world who doesn\u2019t have all four limbs, it was a challenge for me to create an additional device inside her prosthetic leg. She now uses just one leg to shoot her arrows.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSince the device was put just a month back, Payal\u2019s journey in para-archery started from complete scratch yet again. With all the hard work and dedication, she put in the last month, she deservedly got the silver today,\u201d said Kuldeep.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Payal also got philosophical. \u201cThe sunny conditions, heat, and the wind are nothing compared to the struggles and the pain we have faced through life. We have to play through it all,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the men\u2019s compound open gold medal match, Rajasthan\u2019s Shyam Sundar Swami beat Toman Kumar of Chhattisgarh 140-139 in a neck-to-neck encounter. In the bronze medal matches, Rakesh Kumar showcased the unbelievable consistency he is well-known for, to defeat Haryana\u2019s Parmender 143-140. Jyoti Baliyan defeated Delhi\u2019s Lalpati 136-132.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Payal also got philosophical. \u201cThe sunny conditions, heat, and the wind are nothing compared to the struggles and the pain we have faced through life. We have to play through it all,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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