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Paris 2024 Paralympics: Sheetal Devi became the first Indian woman to win an archery medal at the quadrennial showpiece as coach Kuldeep Vedhwan rejoiced at the stands. In a gripping finale at the Paralympics on Monday. the Indian archery duo of Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar delivered a stunning comeback to clinch the bronze medal in the mixed team compound event. Their victory, a narrow 156-155 win over Italy Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina, marks only the second time India has earned a medal in Paralympic archery.
Harvinder Singh previously won an individual bronze at the Tokyo Games three years ago, but this achievement adds a significant milestone, as Sheetal becomes the first Indian woman to secure a Paralympic archery medal. The dramatic turn of events unfolded in the final moments of the competition. With just four arrows remaining, the Indian team trailed by a point. Sarti was performing exceptionally well. while Bonacina struggled to match his partner’s form. Despite the pressure, Sheetal, who is only 17, and Rakesh demonstrated remarkable resilience.
They delivered a strong final end with scores of 10, 9, 10, and 10, bringing their total to 155. The Italian team responded with 9, 9, 10 and 10. which initially appeared to tie the match at 155-155. It was then that the decisive moment arrived. The judges reviewed Sheetal final shot, which had been scored as a 9. After closer inspection, the score was upgraded to a 10, tipping the scales in India favor and securing their victory. This adjustment was crucial, as a similar revision in the semifinals had worked against the Indians earlier in the day.
The semifinal clash had been an intense affair against Iran’s Fatemeh Hemmati and Hadi Nori. The match ended in a tie of 152-152, leading to a shoot-off. Although the Indian duo seemed poised to win when the Iranians scored a 9 with their fourth arrow, a subsequent review awarded Iran a 10 for their second arrow in the final end. This review pushed the match into a shoot-off. Both teams scored perfectly in the shoot-off, but Hemmati arrow, being closer to the bullseye, secured Iran place in the final.
Earlier in the day, the Indian pair had demonstrated their skill by defeating Indonesia Teodora Audi Ayudia Ferellyin and Ken Swagumilang 154-143 in the quarterfinals. The Indians showcased their precision with a perfect score of 40 in the fourth and final end of this match. The Iranian team, who were the eventual finalists, had also secured their place by overcoming Brazil’s Jane Karla Gogel and Reinaldo Vagner Charao Ferreira with a score of 153-151 in their quarterfinal bout.
The competition took place in the open class for compound bows, which is designed for archers with limited strength in their arms. Competitors shoot from a seated position at a distance of 50 meters at an 80cm target divided into 10-6 point bands. Sheetal Devi, born in 2007 with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder resulting in underdeveloped limbs, faced significant physical challenges. Her condition left her arms underdeveloped, yet she overcame these hurdles with exceptional skill and determination. Rakesh Kumar, aged 39, suffered a spinal cord injury that left him wheelchair-bound.
Following his injury and subsequent recovery in 2009, he battled depression and even contemplated ending his life. However, his perseverance and passion for archery led him to this moment of triumph alongside Sheetal. Their bronze medal victory not only highlights their personal resilience but also represents a significant achievement for Indian Paralympic archery, adding to the country growing legacy in the sport.
Paris 2024 Paralympics: Paralympian Sheetal Devi, India Armless Archer
Aged 17, Indian archer born with the congenital disorder phocomelia has left everyone impressed by using her legs, shoulder and jaw to shoot arrows with a compound bow and she is currently ranked first in the world in the compound open women’s category. Devi achievements include a gold medal at the Asian Para Games 2023 and a silver at the Para-Archery World Championship 2023, enabling her to qualify for the Paris Paralympics.
Born in a small village in Jammu district to a farming family. she had not encountered archery until 2022. Devi’s introduction to the sport came through the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board sports complex in Katra. where she met her coaches, Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Vedwan.
Sheetal Devi: The Armless odds-Defying Wonder Para Archer
The remarkable journey of Sheetal Devi, a teenage para-archer from India, continues to captivate the world of sports. Born in 2007 with phocomelia, a rare condition resulting in underdeveloped limbs, Sheetal has defied the odds with her extraordinary achievements in archery. In 2023, she made history by winning a silver medal in the open women compound event at the World Archery Para Championships in the Czech Republic, becoming the first female armless archer to medal at the event.
This accomplishment secured India a quota for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. At the Asian Para Games 2023, Sheetal further distinguished herself by winning gold in both the individual compound and mixed team events, along with a silver in the women doubles, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the sport.
Sheetal Devi Early Days
Sheetal was born in Loidhar village in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir on January 10, 2007. Despite being born with a physical condition that posed inherent challenges, Sheetal Devi was athletically gifted and never let her limitations stop her from making the most of her childhood.
As a kid, Sheetal possessed a strong will and enjoyed climbing trees as a pastime. The activity helped her build a strong upper body which proved to be a turning point later in her life.
The Indian Army played a pivotal role in propelling Sheetal Devi’s career in para archery. It was at a youth event orchestrated by the Indian Army in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir in 2021 that Sheetal innate athleticism and confidence were discovered by army coaches. the initial attempts from the coaches to make Sheetal Devi a force in para archery hit a stumbling block. The coaches initially planned to help her with prosthetics but it did not work out.
After further research, the coaches came to know about Matt Stutzman, an armless archer who used his legs to shoot a silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympics.
Sheetal Devi rise in archery
Sheetal soon joined former archer and coach Kuldeep Vedwan academy. Despite competing among the abled archers at the national competitions, Sheetal Devi talent was for all to see. Using her legs and feet akin to para archery legend Stutzman, Sheetal Devi embraced the unconventional shooting technique and competed at the Para Archery National Championship in Haryana in March-April 2022. Vedwan said the tournament was crucial as it helped Sheetal Devi get formal recognition as an Indian para archer.
Six months later, Sheetal Devi competed at the Junior National Championships among abled archers in Goa. While Devi did not win a medal, her performance proved to be a shot in the arm for her coach as well as Sheetal. While most might have to devote years on the training grounds before making their mark on the global stage, Sheetal Devi proved she was among the elite few who were gifted with exceptional skills.
Following her success in securing a silver medal at the 2023 world championships and two golds and one silver at the Asian Para Games, Sheetal Devi claimed the No. 1 spot in the rankings for para compound archers. Sheetal wrapped up her year by winning the gold medal at the inauguralKhelo India Para Games 2023in the women’s compound open category in New Delhi.
Sheetal Devi was named the Best Youth Athlete of the Year by the Asian Paralympic Committee and was nominated to receive the Arjuna Award at India National Sports Awards 2023. Arjuna Award is the second highest honour for Indian sportspersons after the Khel Ratna. Sheetal is escorted by fellow compound archer Romica Sharma, also from Jammu and Kashmir, during international events to help in day-to-day activities.
Sheetal Devi Medals and Achievements
- World Archery Para Championships 2023 silver medal – women’s individual compound open archery
- Asian Para Games 2023 gold medal – women individual compound open archery
- Asian Para Games 2023 gold medal – mixed doubles compound open archery
- Asian Para Games 2023 silver medal – women doubles compound open archery
- World No. 1 women compound para archer in the open category in 2023
- Khelo India Para Games 2023 gold medal – women individual compound open archery
- Arjuna Award 2023
- Best Youth Athlete of the Year 2023 by the Asian Paralympic Committee
- Best Women Para Archer of the Year 2023 by World Archery