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Sheetal Devi, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, has created history in the Asian Para Games 2023. She became the first Indian archer to shoot archery without both arms, using her teeth and legs to support her chest. Ranked fifth in the world, Rakesh Kumar bagged a hat-trick of gold medals as India won nine medals at the Asian Para Archery Championship on Wednesday, taking the lead over giants like South Korea.
Along with this, 17-year-old female archer Sheetal Devi won the gold medal in the women’s compound open team without arms, defeating Korea’s Jin Young Jeong and Na Mi Choi 148-137 with Jyoti. Sheetal also teamed up with Rakesh to win the gold medal in the mixed team category defeating Indonesia’s T Adi Ayudhya Fraley and Ken S 154-149.
Sheetal also bagged a silver medal when she lost a shoot-off to Noor Shahidah of Singapore in the final. Both were tied 142-142. The shoot-off also resulted in a tie but as Noor’s arrows were closer to the centre, he was declared the winner. In July, Sheetal Devi won the gold medal at the Para World Archery Championships by defeating Singapore’s Aleem Noor S with 144.142.
Sheetal Devi India has won a total of 94 medals so far, out of which nine medals have been won by badminton players. Sheetal teamed up with Rakesh Kumar to win the gold medal in the mixed compound event at the Asian Games. He won a silver medal in the team event. In individual compound archery, Singapore’s Aleem Noor Sayahida won the second gold medal by 144-142. After this he won the first medal for India in this Games being held in Hangzhou.
Sheetal is suffering from a disease called phocomelia since birth. Organs do not develop in this disease. Sheetal Devi could not lift the bow well but she practiced continuously for a few months and after that everything became easy for her. No one supported Sheetal, yet her family members fully supported her.
Sheetal started practicing archery 2 years ago. He participated in an Indian Army youth competition for the first time in the year 2021. Sheetal attracted all the coaches with her work. After this, the Army also approached the Major Akshay Girish Memorial Trust in Bangalore for his prosthetic hand but the prosthetic hand could not be fitted. After this he emphasized on strengthening the upper body parts.
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