Sheetal Devi (Archer) Height, Age, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sheetal Devi

• Sheetal Devi is an Indian athlete, who participates in archery at national and international levels. In the year 2023, she made history as the pioneering female armless archer to achieve a position in the world finals of archery.

• She grew up in a financially weak family in Loi Dhar, Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir.

• Since childhood, Sheetal had a deep love for school, yet she carried a fear that her disability might hinder her ability to study like other children. Nevertheless, with unwavering support from her family and friends, she excelled in her academics.

• In 2022, coach Kuldeep Vedwan learned about Sheetal Devi from an army personnel and was immediately intrigued. He extended an invitation to Sheetal to join the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Archery Academy in Katra, where he would train her in archery.

• To accommodate her unique needs, a special bow was crafted for Sheetal, one that she would wield not with her hands, but with her feet and chest. Remarkably, within a mere six months, Sheetal mastered the art of archery with this unconventional technique, demonstrating extraordinary proficiency and skill. Her determination led her to participate in various competitions.

• Recognizing Sheetal’s exceptional talent, the army stepped in to sponsor her education, providing the necessary support for her academic pursuits. Concurrently, they also made substantial efforts to arrange medical assistance and offer her prosthetic limbs to further enhance her abilities. With their backing and Sheetal’s indomitable spirit, she defied all odds and embarked on a path of achievement and triumph.

• In November 2022, Sheetal Devi initiated her journey as an athlete by participating in the Junior National Archery Championship, where she fearlessly competed alongside able-bodied athletes.

• Encouraged by her progress, she further showcased her talent at the Khelo India Nationals and Women’s Khelo India Games, delivering impressive performances in both events.
  

  Sheetal Devi aiming for her target during an archery tournament

• In May 2023, Sheetal Devi marked her international debut at a para tournament held in the Czech Republic, where she showcased exceptional skills and determination, earning two silver medals and a bronze.

• Two months later, she continued her remarkable journey by participating in the Para Archery Championship 2023. During the championship’s opening day, Sheetal achieved an impressive fourth position in the compound women’s qualifying round, falling just eight points short of her fellow countrywoman, Sarita. Notably, the duo’s combined efforts also resulted in a new world record in the doubles event. In the semifinal, Sheetal displayed remarkable prowess, outshining her compatriot Sarita with a convincing scoreline of 137-133, securing her spot in the final showdown. Sheetal’s exceptional achievements have etched her name in history, as she became the first female armless archer to reach the world finals, a testament to her talent, hard work, and unwavering spirit.
  

  Sheetal Devi during a tournament

• Sheetal was born without hands at birth.

• Following in the footsteps of the acclaimed archer Matt Stutzman, Sheetal skillfully grips her bow using the aid of her foot.

• In 2022, as Sheetal embarked on her archery journey, she earned the esteemed title of being the world’s first female archer without hands. However, by 2023, the ranks expanded, and a total of six archers without hands emerged worldwide.

• In July 2023, Sheetal proudly held the 18th position in the world rankings for Compound Women Open category, a testament to her dedication and prowess in the sport.

• Up until July 2023, Sheetal’s personal best score in Compound Women Qualification stood at an impressive 682, showcasing her continuous growth and determination on the archery field.

• In an interview, while praising Sheetal, her coach Kuldeep Vedwan said,
  

  She came over eight months ago to the academy and started practising. She was born without arms and her ability was obvious to everyone. Her dedication to the sport can be realised by the fact that she comes to practice early in the morning and then leaves for school. She returns to practice after classes. When there is a holiday, she starts at 7 am, breaks for lunch and then finishes at 5 pm. Sheetal is a para athlete but she is competing with normal athletes. There is a selection process which is conducted for a tournament which she participated in and she did very well.”

• During an interview, Sheetal disclosed her initial longing for prosthetics that would enable her to lead a conventional life and fulfill her aspiration of becoming a teacher. However, fate intervened in a remarkable way when she encountered Preethi Rai, the visionary behind the NGO ‘Being You’ based in Bengaluru. Preethi recognized the reservoir of inner strength within Sheetal and encouraged her to consider archery as a potential career path. Although hesitant at first, Sheetal’s life took a transformative turn as she decided to embrace Preethi’s advice and take the leap into the world of archery by joining the academy. This marked the beginning of her extraordinary journey in the sport, a decision that would change the course of her life significantly.

• During the World Para Championships in 2023, Sheetal stood as the sole armless archer to compete in the event.

• During a media conversation, Coach Abhilasha from the Shrine Board Academy shared the challenges they encountered while introducing Sheetal to the world of archery. She expressed that witnessing other para-archers in the academy ignited a profound inspiration in Sheetal, driving her eagerness to pursue the sport. In response to her determination, the academy made special arrangements, providing Sheetal with a custom-made bow. Astonishingly, within a mere six months, she showcased incredible mastery of archery, progressing rapidly in the discipline. Notably, Sheetal’s skills allowed her to participate not only alongside para-archers but also regular archers. Teaching Sheetal the intricate technique of shooting arrows without hands proved to be a daunting task for her coaches, Kuldeep and Abhilasha. To support her training, they showed Sheetal videos of Matt Stutzman, the renowned armless archer from the USA, whose success story served as an invaluable source of guidance for her progress. The significant impact of Matt’s support became evident when he personally visited the academy, met Sheetal, and offered valuable insights for modifying her bow. Considering Matt’s illustrious background in winning Paralympic medals, it was no small feat that Sheetal achieved an impressive score of 689 points at the academy, surpassing Matt’s score of 685 points. Her achievements stand as a testament to her dedication and exceptional talent in the world of archery.

• In 2023, Anand Mahindra, the chairperson of Mahindra and Mahindra, took to X to praise Sheetal for her performance at the 2023 Asian Para Games, where she secured three medals, a silver and two golds. He promised to gift Sheetal a personalized car of her choice from Mahindra and Mahindra’s range. ^[3]Hindustan Times

I will never,EVER again complain about petty problems in my life. #SheetalDevi you are a teacher to us all. Please pick any car from our range & we will award it to you & customise it for your use. pic.twitter.com/JU6DOR5iqs

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) October 28, 2023