Sheetal Devi
Indian para archer
 Sheetal Devi at the 2022 Asian Para Games | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | (2007-01-10) 10 January 2007 (age 17) Loidhar, Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, India | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent(s) | Mann Singh (father), Shakti Devi (mother) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Sheetal Devi (born 10 January 2007) is an Indian para-archer. She was born with a rare medical condition called phocomelia, causing her to be born without arms. She is the first and only international para-archery champion without upper limbs.
In the women's compound bow at the 2022 Asian Para Games, Devi received two gold medals in mixed doubles and women's individual after winning a silver medal in women's double compound. She received the Arjuna Award 2023 from the Droupadi Murmu in January 2024.
Early life and education
Sheetal Devi was born on 10 January 2007[1] in Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir.[2] She was born with a rare medical condition called phocomelia, which caused her to be born with no arms.[3]
In 2019, she attended a youth event in Kishtwar where she was noticed by the Indian Army's Rashtriya Rifles unit, resulting in the army supporting her education and providing medical assistance.[4]
Career and achievements
In the youth event organized by Indian army, the army coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Wadhwan noticed her confidence and decided to train her. Firstly the coaches wanted to help her with prosthetics, but doctors said that prosthetics were not possible in her case. Devi surprised the coaches by saying that she was fond of and has expertise in climbing trees using her legs.[5]
The coaches had never trained a person with no arms for archery before. However they did some research and learnt about Matt Stutzman , who was armless and used his legs for archery. This gave them confidence, and within 11 months of training, Devi had participated In the women's compound bow at the 2022 Asian Para Games,[5][2] and won two gold medals for India.[5] Devi received two gold medals, in mixed doubles and women's individual, after winning a silver medal in women's double compound.[6]
Devi is the first and only international para-archery champion without upper limbs.[7]
Awards
| Year | Award | Awarded by | Result | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Best Youth Athlete of the Year | Asian Paralympic Committee | Won | [8][9] |
| 2023 | Arjuna award | Government of India | Won | [10][11] |
References
- ^ "Sheetal Devi". Olympics. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Sheetal Devi: With three medals at Asian Para Games, 16-year-old armless archer from J&K is making waves". The Indian Express. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Asian Para Games: No arms? No problem for Asian para-archery champion Sheetal Devi". ESPN. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "World's first armless woman archer gets her wings at army camp in Jammu". Hindustan Times. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ a b c "Sheetal Devi the armless archer की अद्भुत कहानी - हाथ नहीं है फिर भी जीते 3 मेडल". Anmoll (in Hindi). 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ PTI (27 October 2023). "Armless archer Sheetal Devi first Indian woman to win 2 Asian Para Games gold as country's medal rush continues". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Who is Sheetal Devi? Teenage armless archer bags three medals in Asian Para Games in China Hangzhou". CNBCTV18. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Para Archer Sheetal Devi Wins Best Youth Athlete Of 2023 Honour At Asian Awards". The Chenab Times. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "Sheetal Devi, India's 16-Year-Old Para Archery Champion, Wins Best Youth Athlete Of 2023 Honour At Asian Awards". Outlook (magazine). 26 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "The Golden Girl of India Sheetal Devi receives Arjuna Award from President of India". India Today. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Sheetal Devi Honoured With Arjuna Award: Well-Deserved Birthday Gift To World's No. 1 Para-Archer At 17". TimesNow. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
External links
- Asian Games Profile
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