Epitome of Inspiration! Meet Sheetal Devi, 16-year-old armless archer from India, who won 3 medals at Asian Para Games

16-year-old armless archer Sheetal Devi on Friday became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games by claiming the top honors in the women's individual compound event here. It is a hat-trick of medals for the 16-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir, who holds her bow with her foot. Earlier this week, Sheetal won a gold in the compound mixed team event and women's doubles silver.

Who is Sheetal Devi?

Hailing from the remote village of Loi Dhar in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, the 16-year-old was born with Phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder resulting in underdeveloped limbs. Her journey from this rugged mountainous region to the international sporting arena stands as an epitome of inspiration.

She came into the world of archery when she was spotted by the Indian Army at a youth sports event in Kishtwar in 2019. Initially, the plan was to provide her with a prosthetic arm, but when that didn't pan out, she was introduced to archery. Despite initial challenges, Sheetal displayed unwavering determination, practicing diligently until she could properly lift the bow.

Sheetal's archery journey began in 2022, and her perspective on para-sports transformed during a visit to the national championships. Her coach, Kuldeep Kumar, recalled, "I told her to come to the academy and see other people shooting. It She progressed rapidly. I took her to the national championships. She was excited and saw many para archers with different disabilities. She quickly got really interested in the sport."

How does she use a bow?

Sheetal's archery technique involves using her right leg to raise the bow and take aim while pulling the string back with her right shoulder. A specially designed mouth-held instrument, created by her coach, assists her in releasing the arrow. In 2023, Sheetal made headlines when she won a Silver medal at the Para-Archery World Championship in the Czech Republic.

Sheetal's unique archery style is inspired by the renowned armless archer, Matt Stutzman. Notably, Sheetal had the opportunity to meet Stutzman at the World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen earlier this year, where the legendary Para archer even used her bow.

She is just 16 years old and she has achieved so much and still has a long way to go! We congratulate her for these milestone.