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Day 3 of the Paris Paralympics saw a mixed bag of results for the Indian contingent. While Rubina Francis brought home a bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol SH1 event, other athletes faced disappointments in their respective competitions.
Rubina's bronze medal was a ray of hope amidst a challenging day for India. Competing at the Chateauroux - Final Range, she secured the third position with a score of 211.1. Her performance was characterized by remarkable consistency, consistently remaining in the top four throughout the event. Rubina's best moments came during her 19th and 20th shots when she climbed into the top two positions, showcasing her potential to challenge for a higher podium finish.
However, she couldn't maintain her lead and finished behind Iran's Sareh Javanmardi, who won gold with a score of 236.8, and Turkiye's Aysel Ozgan, who took silver with 231.1 points. Despite missing out on the top two spots, Rubina's bronze medal was a significant achievement, especially given the stiff competition. It provided a much-needed morale boost for the Indian contingent.
Unfortunately, the day also saw heartbreaking exits for two other Indian athletes. Sheetal Devi, the 17-year-old para-archery sensation, narrowly missed out on a quarter-finals spot in the Women's Individual Compound Open 1/8 Elimination match. She lost to Chile's Mariana Zuniga by just one point, with the final score being 138-137 in Zuniga's favor. This was a disappointing end for the young archer, who had shown immense promise.
In another setback, Sarita Kumari's campaign at the Paralympics came to an end in the Women's Individual Archery quarterfinals. She was defeated by Turkey's world champion, Oznur Cure Girdi. Sarita struggled to find her rhythm throughout the match, losing the first set 26-28 and the second set 27-30. These early setbacks allowed Oznur to take a commanding lead, leaving Sarita unable to recover.
Despite winning the third set, Sarita's efforts were not enough to turn the tide. She ultimately lost the match 145-140. Parveen Kumar also missed out on a medal opportunity in the Men's Javelin Throw - F57 Final. Despite his best efforts, his top throw of the night, measuring 42.12 meters, came in his fourth attempt. This was not enough to secure a podium finish, leaving India without a medal in this event.
Overall, Rubina Francis's bronze medal was a highlight on an otherwise difficult day for India at the Paralympics. It provided hope and inspiration for the days ahead. The Indian contingent will be looking to bounce back and perform strongly in the remaining events of the Games.
Source: Paralympics: Rubina's bronze shines on dull Day 3 for India, Sheetal bows out