There is no stopping Sheetal Devi. The 16-year old Archer, who became the World’s first armless woman to win a Para World Archery Championship last month, has now bagged an Asian Para Games gold medal. Pairing up with Rakesh Kumar, the duo won the title in the Compound Archery Open Mixed Team event at the continental games on Thursday, 26th October.
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Sheetal and Rakesh faced Chinese pair of Yueshan and Xinliang in the final. The Indian pair started off by winning the opening series 37-35. In the next series, the Chinese pair fought back to level 38-38.
Yueshan and Xinliang went on to win the next series 39-37 and put the pressure on the Indians. Rakesh and Sheetal however held their nerves to shoot 39, while China managed just 37 as the Indian pair bagged the gold medal.
This is the second medal in this edition of the Para Games for both the archers. Rakesh had earlier won silver medal in Men’s Doubles compound alongside Suraj Singh. Sheetal also won a silver in the Women’s Doubles.
Who is Sheetal Devi?
Sheetal Devi hails from Jammu and Kashmir’s Lohi Dhar Village. Born without arms, a phone call with coach Kuldeep Kumar changed her life as it was him who encouraged her to take up the sport. She trains at his Mata Vaishnoodevi Archery Academy.
The 16-year old holds the bow and shoots with her foot. Within her first 12 months into Archery, she won national medals and qualified for the Para Asian Games by finishing first in the trials.
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In July she made her World Archery Para Championships debut. She was the only archer to compete without arms in the event. She finished fourth in the qualification with 689 points. Along with compatriot Sarita, who finished first with 692, the duo set the world record for women’s doubles.
Sheetal Devi then went on to win the silver medal in the individual event. She went down fighting 138-140 against Turkey’s Oznur Cure in the final. The result helped her qualify for the 2024 Paralympics.
Now competing in her maiden Asian Para Games, Sheetal Devi is now aiming to add an individual medal in her kitty. She will be facing compatriot Sarita in the semifinal of the Women’s Singles on Friday.
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