India at Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 1 Highlights: Sheetal Devi finishes 2nd in archery individual qualification, earns top seed in mixed event; Sukant, Manisha impress in badminton

In the end, the Tokyo silver medallists Mazur and Noel give the French crowd plenty to cheer about as they preval in straight games. They had earlier lost in their opener against the world No 1 Indonesians. So now essentially, it's a straight shootout, a virtual quarterfinal between Mazur/Noel and Nitesh/Thulasimathi. 

Good fight actually from Suhas and Palak against the Tokyo runners-up in XD SL3-SU5. But the French duo take the opening game 21-15. If Lucas/Noel win this in 2, likely to be a straight shootout between Nitesh/Thulasi.

The top seeds too good in the end, Nitesh and Thulasi understandably couldn't quite keep up with the movement and power of the Indonesians. The battle for 2nd spot could be interesting in this group. Suhas-Palak about to take on the French duo next. 

This was always going to be bit of a mismatch. Ramdani and Oktila (Both SL4 athletes) are massive favourites in this XD category. Nitesh-Thulasi did well in Game 1 but getting away quickly.

Rakesh Kumar finishes 5th with a total of 696, a 55 in the final end of six arrows pushing him down a couple of spots for the individual seedings. But a combined total of 1399 is enough to give India the top seeding. And also, that means it is a new World Record score for mixed team qualification in compound, combining with Sheetal's 703. 

In women's recurve, Pooja places 7th with a score of 585, which also earns India 5th seed in mixed team along with Harvinder. A couple of low scores in the end there for Pooja saw her slide down a couple of spots .

Rakesh Kumar stays third with just 6 arrows to go. Shyam is placed 17th. In women's recurve, Pooja is 8th with one End left. 

In mixed team, Rakesh and Sheetal's total puts them top 

This is some pretty impressive shooting from Rakesh Kumar! Back-to-back 60s in the 2nd half and he has moved up to third as of now in the men's compound ranking round. Shyam Sundar Swami has slid down a bit to be placed 15th. 

Halfway stage in the men's compound and women's recurve ranking rounds. Rakesh placed 5th, Shyam 10th. In women's recurve, Pooja is 8th.

Both Rakesh and Shyam are in the top 8 at the moment. What it means at the moment is that India's mixed team seeding is comfortably on its way to be No 1.

In the women's recurve ranking round, Pooja is placed 10th after four Ends.

We are foour rounds into the men's compound ranking round, Rakesh and Shyam Sundar are placed 9th and 12th respectively but just one point separating them.

Comfortable opening win for top seed Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan in women's singles SH6.

There was no telecast for this match so here's a look at Sukant Kadam's pumped up reaction as he went from 16-20 to 22-20, saving four match points to win his match. 

Indonesia's Subhan prevails in straight games against Sivarajan Solaimalai of India. With favourite Chu Man Kai also in this group, Sivarajan's task is quite tough now. 

There wasn't broadcast for the archery rankings round today, as is usually the case, but in case you haven't seen Sheetal shoot before, here's a breakdown by Amit Kamath. There are three armless archers at Paris Paralympics – Matt Stutzman, Piotr Van Montagu and Sheetal Devi – and the Indian is the solitary female. Stutzman, the American who is one of the featured stars in the Netflix documentary The Rising Phoenix, is considered to be the pioneer of this technique, and the Indian youngster got a chance to meet at the World Championships last year.

These two ranking rounds, apart from deciding the seeds for the respective events, will also decide the seedings for the mixed team event in both compound and recurve.

Huge, huge win for Manisha Ramadass. Under immense pressure after dropping the opening game in this virtual knockout, world No 2 overcomes Maud Lefort (& the French crowd) to win in 3 games.

Manisha hasn't beaten Qiu Xia Yang in six past meetings, including the World Championships final this year, and it was imperative she won this match. 

Three match points for Manisha, but Maud saves two of those. "Allez, Maud!" chants ring around. 

Three matches featuring Indians underway. Manisha's match close to the finish line, but Maud is making a late charge.

This is turning into a fine battle with the home fans joining in to make it even more interesting. Mainsha with a 11-8 lead at the decider change of ends.

Strong response from Manisha! She takes the 2nd game 21-6 and forces the decider against Maud Lefort. Can the Indian ride the momentum and close it out? 

It's the 9th meeting between Manisha and Maud, and it is tantalizingly poised 5-4 in favor of the French shuttler. The third player in this group is the reigning world champ Qiu Xia Yang, so this is a must-win match for Manisha... and she has dropped the game 21-8. Big, big test coming up for one of India's medal hopefuls.  

After a break, badminton action resumes and 2nd Manisha Ramadass off to bit of a slow start against French youngster & Worlds bronze medallist this year, Maud Lefort. Manisha had beaten Maud in the semifinals at the Worlds. 

Sarita is 9th seed and will begin in the round of 32. Oznur Cure, Sheetal Devi, Grinham and Hemmati get direct byes in the round of 16.

India's results in the ranking round:

Tokyo bronze medallist Harvinder Singh finishes 9th with 637. 

India's results in the ranking round: 

Sheetal Devi (2nd place): 703 (New Personal Best)

Sarita (9th place): 682 

Sheetal Devi shoots a sensational 703 out of 720 in the qualification round, 5 more than existing WR mark of 698... but world champ Oznur goes 1 better for 704! Stunning scores from both Sheetal Devi and Oznur Cure, the Indian will be second seed while the world champ from Turkey will be the top seed. Oznur Cure hit 60 in the end!

What a battle this is turning into between the World Championships finalists. Both Sheetal Devi and Oznur Cure on 644 after 66 arrows! SIX more to go to decide top seed and World Record in sight for both of them. 644 for both, Sheetal ahead on 10s count. 

It's another solid round from Sheetal as she drops a 59... with 12 arrows to go, she is on track to better the World Record score. Question is, if someone sle can too. World champion Ozner Cure of Turkey also on the same score as Sheetal at this stage 

Harvinder Singh staying in the top 8 in the men's recurve ranking round.

This is quite terrific from Sheetal Devi. A 60 out of 60 each in the 7th End and 9th End and she is top of the standings at the moment. A 174 out of 180 remaining would put her past the World Record mark, let's see how she finishes. Sarita staying 10th at the moment. 

Thulasimathi starts off with a comfortable win. The top seed in Women's Singles SU5 produces a clinical win in straight games, but of course tougher tests await. It's a category where the India have the top 2 in the world currently (Manisha is No 2) but China's YANG Qiu Xia will also stake a strong claim for gold as the reigning world champ. 

Comfortable opening game for top seed Thulasimathi Murugesan.

Tokyo bronze medallist Harvinder Singh is in the top 8 at the halfway stage of the men's recurve qualification round. 

HALFWAY STAGE: Sheetal Devi stays 2nd with a mighty impressive 348 out of 360. A 350 in the second half would actually put on her course for the World Record, even though the Iranian is ahead on that count by two points. Sarita is placed 10th after 36 arrows. 

A 56 there in one End but Sheetal drops a 59 again after that and stays 2nd after 30 arrows in the qualification round. That is some seriously good shooting so far. Sarita is placed 10th at the moment. 

Men's Individual Recurve Open Ranking Round: Harvinder is placed 9th at the moment. 

Still some way to go in both these events. 

In hat seems to have been quite an intense all-India clash, top seed Nitesh Kumar prevails against Tokyo bronze medallist in three games. Nitesh now placed well to qualify to the semifinals out of this group, Manoj in must-win territory from here. 

Back at the Paralympics for a 2nd time, and she starts off with a win. Palak Kohli, looking quite focussed and intense right through, breaks into a smile as she gets an opening win. Indonesian superstar Oktila next in this group, but the Indian should qualify out of the group now, as one of the top two. 

*SU5 action coming up and top seed Thulasimathi will be on court shortly. 

Thjis is turning into quite the fight it seems. Manoj not going away easily and he takes the 2nd game to force the decider.

Early days, but fine start from Sheetal Devi in the qualifying round. Placed 2nd after 12 out of the 72 arrows.

Strong start by Palak Kohli as she takes the opening game rather comfortably. Meanwhile, in MS SL3, Nitesh closing in on a win against Manoj.

Top seed Nitesh takes the opening game but Manoj keeping things tight in Game 2.

It's Palak Kohli time. 

Just two years ago Kohli was left fearing for her career after she was diagnosed with a bone tumour in her left ankle. Fast forward to 2024, she’s now back for her second Paralympics, having made a full recovery following a surgery that took 12 months to heal. Her left leg shrunk post-surgery, requiring her to wear different shoe sizes, resulting in Kohli being reclassified from SU5 to SL4. “A podium finish would be ideal. After losing the bronze medal match at Tokyo 2020, a medal is what I want most.”

(via BWF Media Guide) 

Another all-Indian clash today as Manoj Sarkar, bronze medallist from Tokyo, takes on top seed in Paris, Nitesh Kumar. 

Confirmation that Jyoti's timing wouldn't be enough for a medal race, but she does create history as the first Indian cycler to take part at the Paralympics.

Sheetal Devi and Harvinder Singh time. One of the medal hopefuls in Paris, and already a medal winner in Tokyo. Sarita in action too as men's recurve and women's compound qualification starts. (No broadcast of course, as is normally the case with archery qualifications).

It's a timing of 4:53.929 for Jyoti in the first heat. It is unlikely to be enough to be in the top four timings, with more four heats to go. 

Tarun also starts off his campaign with a win in Men's Singles SL4 where the Indians make it three in three wins today. Tarun is placed in the same group as 2nd seed Lucas Mazur, the French star of this category. So this was an important win to start off. 

Some cycling action coming up where India are making their Games debut. Jyoti Gaderiya will be in action in Women's C1-3 3000m Individual Pursuit. 10 athletes compete across 5 heats. The riders with the two fastest times will race for Gold, the next two fastest riders will race for Bronze

Tarun takes the opening game against the lower-ranked Brazillian but Oliviera is putting up a fight in Game 2 against the Indian left-hander.

Comfortable win for top seed Suhas Yathiraj, the top seed in this class. The reigning world champion prevails 21-7, 21-5.

What a super win for Sukant Kadam on his Paralympics debut! He trailed 16-20 in Game 3, but saves four match points, wins six points in a row to clinch the group-stage tie against Malaysian 4th seed Burhanuddin. That's a fine win.

Three Indians in MS SL4 and all three on court right now. Tarun's match about to start, on TV court. Suhas has taken the opening game in his match.

Sukant Kadam with a 1-point lead at the change of ends in Game 3. Can he see it through to the finish line? 

Suhas meanwhile has a 16-6 lead in Game 1, appears to be comfortable.