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Indian para-javelin thrower Navdeep Singh, who won the gold medal in the javelin throw F41 category at the Paris Paralympic Games, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Navdeep, who hails from Haryana, presented a cap to the Prime Minister and also requested him to sign his kit. PM Modi obliged and signed an autograph on Navdeep's left arm, which is his throwing arm.During the interaction, PM Modi also asked Navdeep about the video that went viral following his triumph. "Have you seen your video or not. How do you perform with such aggression," PM Modi asked. To which, Navdeep replied, "Last time (Tokyo Paralympics), I had finished fourth. Before leaving for Paris, I had promised you, so the promise has been fulfilled."Navdeep's gold medal was upgraded from silver after the initial winner, Islamic Republic of Iran's Sadegh Beit Sayah, got disqualified from the final. Navdeep had initially finished second with a season-best throw of 47.32m, while Sadegh, before the disqualification, stood at the top with a Paralympic record of 47.64m.In the jam-packed Stade de France, it was a redemption arc for Navdeep after he finished fourth in Tokyo. Navdeep was second in order among the six participants and started his campaign in the final with a foul attempt. He failed to stop the momentum and fell over the line, which resulted in a foul attempt.In his third attempt, Navdeep dug deep and delivered his season best with a massive 47.32m throw and moved to the top spot. He maintained his lead till the end and eventually won the gold medal.Navdeep's victory is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has overcome many challenges in his life, including a childhood accident that left him with a disability. But he has never given up on his dreams, and his success is an inspiration to us all.

India's Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar have etched their names in Paralympic history by securing a bronze medal in the mixed team compound archery competition at the Tokyo Paralympics. The duo's triumph marks India's second archery medal at the Paralympics, following Harvinder Singh's bronze in Tokyo 2020.The Indian pair faced a heart-wrenching defeat in the semifinals against Iran's Fatemeh Hemmati and Hadi Nori, losing in a dramatic shoot-off. However, they displayed remarkable resilience and determination in the bronze medal match against Italy's Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina.With just four arrows remaining, India trailed by a single point. Sarti showcased exceptional form, while Bonacina faced some challenges. However, Sheetal's 17-year-old shot was upgraded upon revision, giving India a crucial advantage.The Indian duo held their nerve and emerged victorious with a narrow 156-155 margin. Sheetal's composure and Rakesh's experience proved invaluable in securing the bronze medal.India's success in archery at the Paralympics is a testament to the growing strength and talent of the country's para-athletes. The bronze medal won by Sheetal and Rakesh is a source of pride and inspiration for the entire nation.

Sheetal Devi, India's armless archery prodigy, has captivated the world with her remarkable performance at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Despite not securing a medal in the individual event, her unwavering determination and exceptional accuracy have earned her widespread admiration.Sheetal's journey to the Paralympics has been nothing short of extraordinary. Born without arms, she defied all odds to pursue her passion for archery. Using her toes to draw the bow and release the arrow, she has honed her skills to an astonishing level.At the Paris Games, Sheetal faced formidable opponents in the compound women's open category. In the last-16, she narrowly missed out on a quarterfinal berth, losing to Tokyo silver medalist Mariana Zuniga of Chile by a single point (137-138). However, her performance throughout the tournament showcased her resilience and unwavering spirit.Sheetal's inspiring story has resonated with people across the globe. Her determination to overcome adversity and achieve her dreams has made her a role model for countless individuals. Business tycoon Anand Mahindra was among those who were deeply moved by her performance.After witnessing Sheetal's viral video where she effortlessly hit a bullseye, Mahindra expressed his admiration on social media. He pledged to fulfill a promise he had made to her, offering her any car from his range customized to suit her needs. Sheetal, who will turn 18 next year, has graciously accepted the offer.Mahindra's gesture is a testament to the impact Sheetal's story has had on the nation and beyond. Her indomitable spirit and unwavering pursuit of excellence have inspired countless individuals to believe in their own abilities and strive for greatness.Sheetal Devi's journey is a reminder that true success lies not only in medals but in the courage, determination, and resilience we display in the face of challenges. Her story continues to inspire and motivate, proving that anything is possible with unwavering belief and a never-say-die attitude.

India's archery campaign at the Paris Paralympics 2024 suffered a setback on Saturday as Sarita Kumari's impressive run ended in the quarterfinals, while Sheetal Devi, known for her remarkable feat of drawing arrows with her toes, bowed out in the last-16 of the compound women's open category.Sarita, the ninth seed from Faridabad, had displayed dominance in the first and second rounds. However, her dream run was halted by top-seed Oznur Cure Girdi of Korea in the last eight. Girdi, who had shattered the world record in the qualifying round with a score of 704 out of a maximum 720 points, showcased her prowess by shooting three perfect 10s in the second end, securing a five-point lead.Despite Sarita's efforts to match Girdi's 30 in the third end and a perfect fourth end, the Turkish archer maintained her lead, ultimately wrapping up the match with a 29 in the fifth end.Sheetal, who had also surpassed the previous world record of 698 by shooting 703, endured a setback in the second end, where she shot a 7-point red ring. This allowed Tokyo silver medalist Mariana Zuniga of Chile to gain an advantage, eventually defeating Sheetal 137-138 in the pre-quarters.Despite Sheetal's early elimination, Sarita had earlier showcased her dominance by defeating Italy's Eleonora Sarti 141-135 in a one-sided pre-quarterfinal match. Sarita, who had won a team silver medal at the Asian Para Games last year, dropped just one point in the first end, securing a four-point lead. She maintained her control throughout the match, sealing the victory with two solid ends.In the open class, archers shoot from a sitting position at a distance of 50m at an 80cm five-ring target made up of the 10-6 point bands.

India's Schedule at Paris Paralympics 2024: Saturday, August 31India's Paralympic contingent will continue their quest for glory on Saturday, August 31, with a packed schedule of events. Among the highlights will be the performance of armless archer Sheetal Devi, who has already made a strong impression in the women's individual compound open event.Morning Session:* 12:00 PM: Para badminton - Mandeep Kaur vs Celine Aureline Vinot (Australia) - Women's Singles SL3 Group B (Group Stage)* 1:00 PM: Para shooting - Swaroop Mahavir Unhalkar - R1 Men's 10m Air Rifle SH1 Standing (Qualification)* 1:20 PM: Para badminton - Nitish Kumar vs Mongkhon Bunsun (Thailand) - Men's Singles SL3 Group A (Group Stage)* 1:30 PM: Para cycling - Jyoti Gaderiya - Women's 500m Time Trial C1-C3 (Qualification)* 1:49 PM: Para cycling - Arshad Shaik - Men's 1000m Time Trial C1-C3 (Qualification)* 2:00 PM: Para badminton - Manoj Sarkar vs Ynag Jianyuan (China) - Men's Singles SL3 Group A (Group Stage)Afternoon Session:* 2:40 PM: Para rowing - Anita/Narayana - PR 3 Mixed Doubles Sculls (Repechage)* 2:40 PM: Para badminton - Sukant Kadam vs Siripong Teamarrom (Thailand) - Men's Singles SL4 Group B (Group Stage)* 3:20 PM: Para badminton - Tarun Dhillon vs Lucas Mazur (France) - Men's Singles SL4 Group D (Group Stage)* 3:30 PM: Para shooting - Rubina Francis - P2 Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 (Qualification)* 3:45 PM: Para shooting - Subject to Qualification - R1 Men's 10m Air Rifle SH1 Standing (Finals)* 4:00 PM: Para badminton - Manisha Ramadas vs Yang Qiu Xia (China) - Women's Singles SU5 Group C (Group Stage)Evening Session:* 5:05 PM: Para cycling - Subject to Qualification - Women's 500m Time Trial C1-C3 (Finals)* 5:32 PM: Para cycling - Subject to Qualification - Men's 1000m Time Trial C1-C3 (Finals)* 6:15 PM: Para shooting - Subject to Qualification - P2 Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 (Finals)* 7.00 PM: Para archery - Sarita vs Eleonara Sarti (Italy) - Women's Individual Compound Open (Round of 16)* 8:59 PM: Para archery - Sheetal Devi vs Mariana Zuniga (Chile) - Women's Individual Compound Open (Round of 16)* 9:16 PM: Para archery - Subject to Qualification - Women's Individual Compound Open (Quarterfinals)* 10:24 PM: Para archery - Subject to Qualification - Women's Individual Compound Open (Semifinals)* 10:30 PM: Para athletics - Parveen Kumar - Men's Javelin F57 (Finals)* 11:13 PM: Para archery - Subject to Qualification - Women's Individual Compound Open (Bronze Medal Match)* 11:30 PM: Para archery - Subject to Qualification - Women's Individual Compound Open (Finals)