New Delhi: Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi will be looking to become the first Indian to bag a gold medal in archery at the Paralympics when she begins her campaign in the 2024 edition of the Games in Paris. The 2024 Paralympics will feature over 4,000 athletes from across the world, competing in a total of 22 sports.
India have sent an 84-strong contingent for the Games and will be hoping to record their best-ever show in Paralympics history after bagging a total of 19 medals in the last edition in Tokyo. Sheetal will be among India’s strongest gold medal contenders at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Born with a rare condition called phocomelia, she grew up without her arms.
However, that didn’t stop her from pursuing archery as a career. The 17-year-old, who was born in Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, is the first and only active female archer who competes without arms. She took up archery only in 2015 after meeting her current coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Vedwan, who introduced her to the sport.
It was difficult for Sheetal’s coaches, who had never trained someone in archery without arms before but her determination made their jobs easier. Extensive practice and incredible focus helped Sheetal achieve the impossible as she started shooting with the help of her legs, her shoulder and her mouth. She raises the bow with her right leg while sitting in her chair and pulls the string with the help of her shoulder and mouth before releasing the arrow with strength in her jaw.
Despite facing multiple challenges being without arms, Sheetal has defied all odds to become one of India’s most prominent para archers. At the Paris Paralympics 2024, she will be hoping to become only the first athlete from the country to win a gold medal in archery. India have so far won only a solitary bronze medal in archery at the Paralympics.
Sheetal Devi’s career so far
Despite starting just two years ago, 17-year-old Sheetal Devi has already achieved a lot in her career as a para-archer. She won two gold medals in the women’s compound bow category at the 2022 Asian Para Games. She won gold medals in the mixed doubles and women’s individual categories of the event. She also won a silver medal in doubles compound archery at the Asian Para Games in 2022.
She was conferred with the Arjuna Award by the Indian government for her achievements in 2023 and was also awarded the Best Youth Athlete Award from the Asian Paralympic Committee for her heroics at the 2022 Asian Para Games. As she gears up for her Paralympics debut, Sheetal Devi will be hoping to shoot for gold.
India’s para-archer Sheetal Devi will be eyeing history in Paris as she gears up for her maiden Paralympics. Born with a rare condition called phocomelia, Sheetal Devi is the only active female archer who competes without arms. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
