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17yrs Old, Lost Both Arms, Creating World Records in Archery Paralympics
Meet Sheetal Devi: A truly inspiring figure who’s captured hearts around the globe. A young woman from the picturesque town of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, who was born without arms due to a rare condition called phocomelia is now a proud athlete of India after her appearance in Archery Paralympics.
Yes, you heard that right. No arms. Yet, she’s not just any athlete; she’s a champion in archery Paralympics. Sheetal’s story isn’t just about overcoming physical challenges; it’s a testament to sheer willpower and extraordinary talent.
Born with phocomelia, a condition that leaves limbs under-developed, Sheetal’s life could have followed a much different path. But in 2019, the Indian Army, discovered her at a military camp. Recognizing her potential, the army provided her with educational support and medical care.
While doctors said prosthetics weren’t an option, Sheetal amazed her coaches by climbing trees using her legs. Her coaches saw a spark in her, reminiscent of Matt Stutzman, an archer without arms who used his legs to excel in the sport. They thought, why not apply a similar technique and help her shine at archery Paralympics.
Fast forward to 2022, and Sheetal Devi was spotted dazzling at the Asian Para Games. In just 11 months of training, she grabbed two gold medals in the women’s compound event and a silver in the mixed doubles. Talk about a meteoric rise! And it didn’t stop there.
At the Paris 2024 Archery Paralympics, India’s armless archer Sheetal Devi finished second in the women’s individual compound open archery ranking round. She scored 703 out of 720, just one point shy of the world record.
Born without arms, Sheetal uses her legs to shoot and surpassed the previous ranking round world record of 698 set by Phoebe Pine Paterson of Great Britain. Despite her impressive performance, Sheetal was edged out by Turkey’s Öznur Cüre, who set a new world record with a score of 704. Iran’s Fatemeh Hemmati finished third with 696..
At these Paralympics, she’s not just competing; she’s making history as the youngest archer in the women’s para-archery category at 2024 summer Paralympics. Devi is the first and only international para-archery champion without upper limbs.
Her one of the inspiring stories reminds us that the real limits are those we set for ourselves, not the ones imposed by our circumstances. As she prepares for her next challenge, we can’t help but wonder—what other heights will she reach?
