Sheetal Devi: The teenage archer with no arms chasing Paralympic gold

India's Sheetal Devi put the world on notice on the opening day of the Paralympic Games, breaking the world record and finishing in second place with a score of 704 in the women's individual compound ranking rounds.

The 17-year-old archery sensation and her partner Rakesh Kumar shattered the mixed compound archery team world record, scoring 1399 points and setting themselves up for potential gold medal success.

In a world where resilience is frequently celebrated, Sheetal Devi is a genuine source of inspiration for people with huge physical obstacles to overcome.

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According to the BBC, Devi was born in the Jammu district with a condition called phocomelia, a rare congenital condition that left her without arms, making her one of the very few female archers to compete without arms.

When competing, Devi is seated on a chair. She raises the bow with her right leg, pulls back the string with her right shoulder, and releases the bow with her jaw.

The Indian archer has triumphed over extreme adversity to become one of the best para-archers in the sport today. Her journey to become that is nothing short of incredible.

Sheetal's extraordinary journey started in 2019 at a youth event in Kishtwar, where her exceptional athletic abilities caught the attention of coaches from the Indian army.

The teenager's undeniable strength and determination were recognised by her ability to climb trees with no arms. In recognising her unique skillset, the coaches tried to fit her with prosthetic limbs but later found inspiration from Matt Stutzman, a para-archer with no arms.

Following an intense 11-month training regime under coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Vedwan, Devi rose astronomically to the top of the sport and competed on a world level.

Devi made headlines at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, winning a gold medal in the individual compound and gold in the mixed team compound event. She also took home silver in the doubles compound.

According to CNBC, Devi is the first and only international para-archery champion without upper limbs. However, she isn't done yet!

The BBC reports Devi said: "I am inspired to win the gold. Whenever I see the medals I have won [until now], I feel inspired to win more. I have only just started."

Her unwavering focus on winning a gold medal for her country is a testament to her extraordinary character. For her focus and dedication, she has received some prestigious awards.

According to the Times of India, in January 2024, Devi was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award, one of India's highest sports honours. The award was in recognition of Devi's remarkable journey from a remote village to a global para-athlete icon.

The 2023 Best Youth Athlete of the Year, awarded by the Asian Paralympic Committee, qualified for the Paris Games after winning a silver medal at the Para-Archery World Championships.

The teenage sensation faces tough competition at the Paralympic Games, including world number three Jane Karla Gogel and the reigning World Championship winner Oznur Cure. After a remarkable journey, you wouldn't put it past Devi to secure her maiden Paralympic gold.

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