“At just 16 years old, Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi delivered a remarkable performance at the Asian Para Games, clinching multiple medals and etching her name into sporting history with a series of groundbreaking achievements.
Born in Loidhar village, Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir, Devi was born with phocomelia, a rare congenital condition that left her without arms — yet she mastered archery using her legs and shoulders.
At the Asian Para Games, she emerged as one of India’s standout performers:
Gold Medals: Sheetal Devi secured two gold medals — in the women’s individual compound and mixed team compound events.
Silver Medal: She also added a silver in the women’s doubles compound competition.
Her medal haul helped boost India’s overall tally and marked a historic milestone — solidifying her status not just as a medal-winner but as an inspirational figure in para-sports and archery.
Devi’s extraordinary feat at such a young age — competing and triumphing against elite international archers while adapting to the sport in a uniquely challenging way — has been widely celebrated as one of the most inspiring stories of the Games and a landmark in Indian sporting achievement.”
Born in Loidhar village, Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir, Devi was born with phocomelia, a rare congenital condition that left her without arms — yet she mastered archery using her legs and shoulders.
At the Asian Para Games, she emerged as one of India’s standout performers:
Gold Medals: Sheetal Devi secured two gold medals — in the women’s individual compound and mixed team compound events.
Silver Medal: She also added a silver in the women’s doubles compound competition.
Her medal haul helped boost India’s overall tally and marked a historic milestone — solidifying her status not just as a medal-winner but as an inspirational figure in para-sports and archery.
Devi’s extraordinary feat at such a young age — competing and triumphing against elite international archers while adapting to the sport in a uniquely challenging way — has been widely celebrated as one of the most inspiring stories of the Games and a landmark in Indian sporting achievement.”
