Sheetal Devi, born on January 10, 2007, in Jammu and Kashmir, is an Indian para-archer who’s the current world number 1. At just 17, Sheetal has won medals at the World Archery Para Championships, Asian Games, and Asian Championships. Having made her entry into the sport in 2021, Sheetal’s astronomical rise has taken the world by storm, and she’s aiming to become India’s youngest-ever Olympic medalist.
MEDAL RECORDS
| Tournament |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympics | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| World Championships | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Asian Para Games | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Asian Championships | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Early Life and Background
Sheetal was born to Mann Singh and Shakti Devi in Loidhar, Kishtwar. Following her birth, her parents realised that their daughter suffered from a rare medical condition called Phocomelia. Individuals born with the condition have underdeveloped limbs. In Sheetal’s case, she arrived in the world without arms. In 2021, Sheetal attended a youth event in Kishtwar and was noticed by the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit, who decided to sponsor her education and medical requirements.
She was taken under the wing of coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Wadhwan after the event, and they learned that Sheetal was fond of climbing trees despite having no arms. The coaches decided to get Sheetal prosthetic arms, but the doctors found that was not possible in her case.
However, Sheetal’s coaches weren’t sure how to teach someone without arms archery. It was then that they found Matt Stutzman. The American para-archer suffered from the same condition and won the silver medal at the 2012 Paralympics. This inspired her coaches, and they decided to make Sheetal Devi the world’s best para-archer.
Awards & Recognitions
2023: Best Youth Athlete of the Year (Asian Paralympic Committee)
2023: Best Women’s Para Archer of the Year
2023: World No. 1 women’s compound para archer
2023: Arjuna Award
Paralympic Games Paris 2024
Qualifying Events
Sheetal Devi secured the quota for the Paris 2024 Paralympics Games after she won the silver medal at the World Archery Para Championships 2023 in the Czech Republic last year.
Training and Preparation
Sheetal has been training for the 2024 Paralympics under the guidance of former archer-turned-coach Kuldeep Vedwan. She’s already reached the Olympic Village in Paris and will be in action on August 29, the day when para-archery starts in the 2024 Games.
Events at Paris Olympics 2024
Men’s Table Tennis Schedule
| Date | Rounds | Time | Venue |
| August 29 | Women’s singles compound opening ranking round | 4:30 PM | Esplanade des Invalides |
| August 29 | Mixed team compound opening ranking round | 8:30 PM | Esplanade des Invalides |
| August 30 | Women’s singles compound 1/16 | 7 PM | Esplanade des Invalides |
| August 31 | Women’s singles compound 1/8 | 7 PM | Esplanade des Invalides |
| August 31 | Women’s singles compound QF, SF, F, Bronze & Gold medal matches | Depending on qualification | Esplanade des Invalides |
| September 2 | Mixed team compound 1/8 | 7 PM | Esplanade des Invalides |
| September 2 | Mixed team compound QF, SF, F, Bronze & Gold medal matches | Depending on qualification | Esplanade des Invalides |
Quotes and Interviews:
“Winning a Paralympic gold for India, that’s my ultimate goal.”
“If I can do it, anybody can.”
“Every day is a new day to dream a new dream, to live a new dream and to write a new story.”
Future Prospects
On September 2, at the age of 17, Sheetal Devi could become a two-time Paralympic medalist. If she does so, Sheetal will join the likes of Mariyappan Thangavelu, Avani Lekhara, and Singhraj Adhana as the sixth Indian to win two medals at the Paralympics. Only Devendra Jhajharia and Joginder Singh Bedi will be ahead of her as the most successful Indian Paralympic athletes, with three medals each.
