Armless archer Sheetal becomes first Indian woman to win two golds

Hangzhou: Teenaged armless archer Sheetal Devi became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games as the country's record haul swelled to 99 on the penultimate day of competitions here on Friday. India won 17 medals, including seven gold, with the shuttlers contributing the most number of medals -- eight (with four gold) -- on Friday.

With one day left in the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, India were placed sixth in the standings with 25 gold, 29 silver and 45 bronze, below China (196 gold, 159 silver, 138 bronze), Japan (39, 44, 56), Iran (39, 39, 37), Korea (28, 30, 37) and Indonesia (26, 21, 32). India is at fourth place in terms of total number of medals. On Thursday, India had gone past the earlier highest Asian Para Games tally of 72 medals (15 gold, 24 silver, 33 bronze) achieved in the 2018 edition. The country is now certain to win 100 medals in the Hangzhou Asian Para Games which will be a remarkable milestone.

The para athletes are set to emulate their able-bodied counterparts who had won a record haul of 107 medals in the Hangzhou Asian Games held from September 23 to October 8. Sheetal clinched the women's individual compound gold on Friday to add to the yellow metal she won in the compound mixed team event on Thursday.

Ankur Dhama had become the first Indian to win two gold medals in a single edition earlier this week. Another Indian archer, Rakesh Kumar defeated Iran's Alisin Manshaezadeh in 144(10)-144(9) in a shoot-off to win the silver medal in men's compound event.

Reigning Paralympic champion shuttler Pramod Bhagat secured a gold medal in the single SL3 category as he outplayed compatriot Nitesh Kumar 22-20, 21-19 in the final. "Firstly a huge congratulations to Nitesh Kumar, I think he played the game of his life, but unfortunately ended up with a silver. He is a brilliant player and pushes me till the edge which he did today," said Bhagat.

In the men's doubles SL3-SLF4, Nitesh and Tarun won the gold, while Thulasmathi combined with Manasi Joshi to win silver in women's doubles SL3-SU5, losing to Khalimatus Sadiyah and Leani Ratri Oktila of Indonesia 16-21, 21-13, 14-21 in the final. Reigning Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar settled for a silver as he went down fighting 10 -21, 21-8, 11-21 against Hong Kong's Chu Man Kai in the men's SH6 final.

The Indian men's SU5 men's doubles pair of Chirag Baretha and Raj Kumar also added a silver after losing to Hafizh Briliansyah and Dheva Anrimusthi of Indonesia 11-21, 21-19, 11-21 in the final.