Cure Girdi, Devi pass mythical 700-point mark on archery opening day

Oznur Cure Girdi topped the compound women’s qualification with a sensational world record of 704 points after a tight competition with Sheetal Devi at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

The two female archer broke the mythical 700-barrier for the first time in history, as Ai Xinliang tied his own world record on the men’s side of the field, setting the Paralympic record at 709.

Devi and Rakesh Kumar also set new Paralympic and world marks for the compound mixed team event with a combined score of 1399.

“I’m so emotional now and feeling so many things,” she said. “We were working very hard for and dreaming of having this position.”

Cure Girdi knew she was chasing the world record and still shot a perfect end under pressure.

“I didn’t want to show to my coaches that I was aware of it and I was fighting for it,” she said. “I also knew my coaches were aware of it, too, and they were trying to keep my calm. Everybody was aware, but we just tried to keep calm.”

“It wasn’t important to race against someone. I just tried to do my best, and I’m happy.”

The strategy paid off. Cure and the Turkish team were in seventh heaven.

“After the last arrow, when I saw my coaches celebrating, I got emotional and started crying.”

Iran’s Fatemeh Hemmati seeded third on the compound women’s field.

Cure Girdi and Devi turned the ranking round into a thrilling spectacle as they both battled for the world record. They reached ground-breaking scores, becoming the first two para compound women to shot over 700.

Only the last of her 72 arrows decided on Cure’s seeding top and setting the record with a score of 704.

The two compound women were tied at 644 before the last end. None of their five following arrows could divide them. They both shot five 10s.

The 26-year-old Turkish athlete stood the pressure until the very end and clustered her last arrow into the 10-ring again, while 17-year-old Devi scored nine. 

Cure Girdi seemed to have assumed such a turn of events. She was prepared for a tight qualifying. And for the world record, too. 

“We worked a lot during the training on this kind of situation to be ready,” she explained. “It was different than at training. I was aware of it, and tried to keep myself calm.”

She set a new world record and a new Paralympic record, and also made history, as she and Devi became the first para archers to break the 700-point barrier.

They both put themselves in the role of top contenders, but Oznur follows the path that brought her to the record. She remained calm.

“We’ve just achieved the first step, and it’s only beginning, but we hope we can keep this performance.”

China’s Ai Xinliang was chasing his own compound men’s world record of 709 set last year at the World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen.

He could just match it to set a new Paralympic record.

“I feel good, but the weather changed in the second part,” he said. “In the beginning, it was good, but then the wind changed. I’m a little bit sad about that.”

Ai’s dream to break another world record was dashed with his last arrow as he shot a nine. 

“I just tried hard. All the efforts I put in archery, paid off. Setting records is part of the outcome of my work.” 

His teammate He Zihao seeded second, and Finland’s Jere Forsberg came in third. 

The 1399 combined score of Indian pair Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar set a new Paralympic and world record for the compound mixed team.

Compound women’s elimination takes place on Friday and Saturday, with medals being awarded later on Saturday.

Top seeds: 2024 Paralympics

Full results on the event page.

• Compound men: Ai Xinliang, China – 709 (Paralympic record)
• Compound women: Oznur Cure Girdi, Türkiye – 704 (Paralympic and world record)
• Compound mixed team: Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi, India – 1399 (Paralympic and world record)