Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar won a bronze, securing a once-elusive medal for India in Compound Para-archery at the Paris Paralympics on September 2. The duo defeated Italy’s Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina 156-155 in the Mixed Team bronze medal match. Devi is only the second armless archer in the world to have won a Paralympic medal.
Earlier in the Games, the debutante surpassed her personal best in the women’s individual compound open ranking round, finishing second on August 29. However, she fell short of qualifying for the quarterfinals in the Round of 16 event.
Sheetal Devi Sets Personal Best In Ranking Round
Sheetal Devi recorded an impressive score of 703, becoming the first Indian to cross a score of 700 in the women's individual para-archery event. This score alone was enough to break the current world record, but Turkey's Oznur Cure Girdi ultimately claimed the new record with a score of 704.
This is the second time in the same month that the 17-year-old para-archer has surpassed the ranking round world record. She had previously broken the record set by Great Britain's Phoebe Pine Paterson with a score of 698, only for Cure to later surpass that mark as well.
Who Is Sheetal Devi?
Sheetal Devi was born on January 10, 2007, to Mann Singh and Shakti Devi in Loidhar village, in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. She was born with phocomelia syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that left her limbs underdeveloped. Her journey in archery began in 2021 when the Rashtriya Rifles unit of the Indian Army met her at a youth event in the district and stepped up to support her education and sporting career.
Sheetal recently posted about how her mother is travelling for the first time to watch her compete and represent India. "Many firsts for my mother: her first international trip, her first time in a sports outfit, and her first time watching her daughter compete. Thank you, Maa, for always being by my side," she wrote in a heartfelt post.
Initially, her coaches attempted to help her with prosthetics, however, the medics said that it was not possible in her case. Despite this, Sheetal Devi surprised them with her enthusiasm to train using just her legs. The coaches recognised the example of American para-archer Matt Stutzman to train her.
Impressively, she won two gold medals for India at the Asian Para Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China, within just 11 months of coaching.
Making The Nation Proud
Coming from a small town to earning global recognition within months of training has made Sheetal Devi an inspiration to the world. Her prowess has also been lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met and spoke to the gold medallist soon after the Asian Para Games.
Even prominent industrialist Anand Mahindra was touched by Sheetal Devi's remarkable story. In December 2023, he took to Twitter to share her awe-inspiring journey, emphasising that she was a "teacher to us all." As a gesture of his respect and admiration, he made an extraordinary pledge – to gift Sheetal Devi a custom-made car from Mahindra's extensive lineup.
His message was heartfelt and empowering, underscoring the essence of Sheetal's unparalleled determination. "I will never, EVER again complain about petty problems in my life," Mr. Mahindra proclaimed. His pledge not only symbolizes his admiration for her strength but also sets a shining example of how society should embrace individuals who break barriers.
By celebrating Sheetal Devi's achievements and recognizing her as a symbol of female empowerment, we take a step closer to a world where gender does not dictate one's potential for greatness. Her story is a reminder that the power of the human spirit is limitless, and it's high time we all acknowledged and celebrated it.
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