Ranchi: If one has the passion to do something in life, then a person can overcome every challenge. Whatever may be the challenge, one has to bow before the high courage of man. Indian female archer Sheetal Devi has done something similar. Recently, he has created history by winning three medals including two gold in the Asian Para Games 2023.
The world’s only armless female archer
16-year-old Sheetal Devi, resident of Jammu and Kashmir, has once again set an example by achieving great success in the Asian Para Games 2023. She has brought glory to the country by winning the gold medal in the women’s individual compound archery event in Hangzhou, China. With this victory, his success has become an example for those who keep crying about the circumstances. Despite being disabled in both hands, archer Sheetal, who shoots with her teeth and feet with the support of her chest, has already made many achievements in her name.
Born in a poor family
Sheetal Devi was born on January 10, 2007 in a poor family in the remote village of Loi Dhar in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. His father does farming and his mother rears goats at home. The story of this daughter born in a poor family is a true example of courage and struggle. There was hardly any way to meet the expenses of his house. He did not have both hands since birth. Actually, he has been suffering from a disease called phocomelia since birth. Therefore, the army adopted him in his childhood itself.
Till the age of 14, Sheetal did not know anything about archery, but the year 2021 brought a big change in her life. That year Sheetal participated enthusiastically in an army program. Here an NGO noticed him. That NGO took up the responsibility of improving Sheetal’s life. Initially there was a plan to get an artificial hand, but due to some reasons it could not happen. After this, some more tests were done and it was found that Sheetal’s legs were very strong. On this the NGO advised him to do archery with his feet. It was from here that Sheetal’s life changed.
Archery coach encouraged
After this, she came in contact with Kuldeep Vedwan, coach of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Archery Academy, Katra. Seeing her talent, Kuldeep did a lot of research and got a special bow prepared for her, which is not fired with hands but with feet. It was not easy to hold the 27.50 kg bow with the feet and keep it steady and shoot the arrow with the mouth. Kuldeep also found a solution to this. He showed Sheetal the video of America’s Matt Stutzman, the world’s first archer without hands. Got a lot of inspiration from this.
Made debut in Junior National Games in November last year
Sheetal would reach the academy early in the morning for practice. Then she would go to school from here and as soon as she got leave, she would practice at the academy till evening. On her days off, she would spend her entire time in the academy. In this way, within six months, Sheetal achieved mastery in it due to her hard work and dedication. He participated in the Junior National Games for the first time in November, 2022 and never looked back. She was the world’s first armless female archer to reach the final of the World Para Archery held in Czech Republic in July this year. Sheetal now has her sights set on the Para Olympic Games. She has already qualified for these games to be held in Paris in 2024.