Sheetal Devi

Sheetal Devi
Devi at the 2022 Asian Para Games
Personal information
NationalityIndian
Born (2007-01-10) 10 January 2007 (age 17)
Loidhar, Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Sport
SportArchery
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)703 / 720 (2024)
1399 WR (2024)
Medal record
Women's Para-archery
Representing  India
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Paralympic Games 0 0 1
World Championships 0 1 0
Asian Para Games 2 1 0
Asian Championships 1 1 0
Total 3 3 1
Paralympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Mixed team
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2023 Plzeň Individual
Asian Para Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou Individual
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Hangzhou Doubles
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Bangkok Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2023 Bangkok Individual

Sheetal Devi (born 10 January 2007) is an Indian para-archer. She won a bronze medal in the mixed team compound event at the 2024 Paralympics, becoming the youngest Indian Paralympian medalist. She won two gold medals and one silver at the 2022 Asian Para Games. Devi won a silver medal at the World Para Archery Championship, as well as a gold and a silver at the Asian Para Archery Championships. She is a recipient of the Arjuna Award and was ranked first in the para world archery rankings in 2023.

Devi was born with phocomelia, a rare medical condition resulting in the absence of arms. She is the first and only female para-archery champion without upper limbs.

Early life and education

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Sheetal Devi was born on 10 January 2007[1] in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.[2] She was born with a rare medical condition called phocomelia, which resulted in her being born without arms.[3]

In 2019, she attended a youth event in Kishtwar, where she was noticed by the Indian Army's Rashtriya Rifles unit, which led to the army supporting her education and providing medical assistance.[4]

Career and achievements

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Sheetal Devi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024.

At a youth event organized by the Indian Army, Devi caught the attention of coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Wadhwan, who were impressed by her confidence and decided to begin her training. Although they initially considered using prosthetics to assist her, doctors advised that it was not possible in her case. Devi's ability to climb trees using only her legs had significantly developed her core strength, which became important in her training.[5][6][7][8][9]

The coaches had never trained someone without arms for archery before. However, after researching and learning about Matt Stutzman, an archer who uses his legs, they began her training. Within 11 months of training, Devi competed in the women's compound bow event at the 2022 Asian Para Games,[5][2][10] where she won two gold medals for India.[5] She secured gold in the mixed doubles and women's individual, in addition to a silver medal in the women's double compound event,[11][12] which moved her to the top of the para world archery rankings in the women's compound open category.[13]

On 9 January 2024, Devi received the Arjuna Award 2023 from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.[14][15] She became the youngest athlete to compete in women's para archery at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[16] She surpassed the previous world record of 698 points in the ranking round with an impressive score of 703, qualifying for the 1/16 elimination round in the women's individual compound open category.[17][18][19] Despite being eliminated by just 1 point in the 1/8 elimination round,[20][21] she overcame the setback by winning a bronze medal in the mixed team compound open category alongside Rakesh Kumar at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[22][23]

Awards

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International

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National

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References

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  1. ^ "Sheetal Devi". Paris 2024 Paralympics. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Sheetal Devi: With three medals at Asian Para Games, 16-year-old armless archer from J&K is making waves". The Indian Express. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Asian Para Games: No arms? No problem for Asian para-archery champion Sheetal Devi". ESPN. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  4. ^ "World's first armless woman archer gets her wings at army camp in Jammu". Hindustan Times. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Sheetal Devi the armless archer की अद्भुत कहानी - हाथ नहीं है फिर भी जीते 3 मेडल". Anmoll (in Hindi). 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  6. ^ "How Sheetal Devi, India's First Female Armless Archer, Won Para Asiad Gold. Watch | Archery News". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  7. ^ "India Finishes Paralympics With Historic Tally: Meet The Inspiring Medallists | Page 1". Forbes India. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  8. ^ Video | Arrow Of Hope: Para Archer Sheetal Devi's Journey. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via www.ndtv.com.
  9. ^ The Hindu Bureau, Sports (1 December 2023). "The armless archer Sheetal Devi, who has captured the imagination of the country with her courageous journey and inspired everyone with her two gold and a silver medal in the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Watch: Paris crowd erupts in awe as armless archer Sheetal Devi hits the bullseye". India Today. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  11. ^ PTI (27 October 2023). "Armless archer Sheetal Devi first Indian woman to win 2 Asian Para Games gold as country's medal rush continues". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  12. ^ "How Sheetal Devi, India's First Female Armless Archer, Won Para Asiad Gold. Watch | Archery News". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Sheetal Devi becomes World No. 1 Para Archer". The Times of India. 28 November 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  14. ^ "National Sports Awards 2023: Mohammed Shami, para-archer Sheetal Devi receive Arjuna awards - WATCH". The Times of India. 9 January 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  15. ^ Online |, E. T. (9 January 2024). "Arjuna Awards 2023: Para-archer Sheetal Devi receives prestigious award from President Murmu". The Economic Times. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Paralympics 2024: Who is Sheetal Devi? 17-year-old scripts world record in archery". Hindustan Times. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  17. ^ PTI (29 August 2024). "Sheetal sizzles, qualifies for the round of 16". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Paralympics: Sheetal Devi leads Indian archers' impressive show in ranking round". India Today. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  19. ^ Aldred, Tanya (31 August 2024). "Jodie Grinham shoots into history with Paralympic archery bronze while pregnant". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  20. ^ IANS (1 September 2024). "Paris Paralympics: Sheetal Devi bows out, Sarita misses semis spot". The Statesman. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Paralympics: Archer Sheetal loses pre-quarters, out of individual medal contention". India Today. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  22. ^ PTI (2 September 2024). "Indian duo of Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar wins bronze". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Paris Paralympics: With mixed team archery bronze, Sheetal Devi adds another chapter to glorious legacy". The Indian Express. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Para Archer Sheetal Devi Wins Best Youth Athlete Of 2023 Honour At Asian Awards". The Chenab Times. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Sheetal Devi, India's 16-Year-Old Para Archery Champion, Wins Best Youth Athlete Of 2023 Honour At Asian Awards". Outlook (magazine). 26 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Meet Sheetal Devi, Indian archer who became a Para archery sensation against all odds". The Economic Times. 29 August 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  27. ^ "The Golden Girl of India Sheetal Devi receives Arjuna Award from President of India". India Today. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Sheetal Devi Honoured With Arjuna Award: Well-Deserved Birthday Gift To World's No. 1 Para-Archer At 17". TimesNow. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
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