Discovered at a military camp in a remote part of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir and adopted by the Indian Army in her childhood, paralympic archer Sheetal Devi won a bronze medal in the mixed team compound event in archery along with Rakesh Kumar at the Paris Paralympics last year.
Recently, Anand Mahindra who has long admired the paralympic archer's talent from afar met her in person and said he was struck by her remarkable determination, tenacity and focus. Speaking to her mother and sister, it was clear that it runs in the family, said the industrialist in a post on X. Sheetal Devi gifted him an arrow, "a symbol of her identity as an archer, unbound by any limitations. "
"Truly priceless!," said Mahindra in his post. "Sheetal is an inspiration to us all, and I am proud to see her in a Scorpio N, a fitting steed for her as she continues to Rise to new heights."
A user, replying to Mahindra's post on X, inquired about the possibility of financing artificial robotic hands for her. To this, the industrialist replied, "I did ask. She has tried them out. Isn’t comfortable with them. Says she manages fine without them!"
Sheetal Devi who recently turned 18, was born with the congenital disorder phocomelia. Despite having no arms, Devi uses her legs, shoulder, and jaw to shoot arrows with a compound bow. Devi's determination and skill have led her to numerous victories, including a gold medal at the Asian Para Games 2023 and a silver at the Para-Archery World Championship 2023 in addition to her success at last year's Paralympics.
Devi's journey to becoming a top-tier archer is notable for her remarkable technique and unyielding spirit. 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. Despite initial hesitations, Devi adapted quickly and rigorously to the sport, building on her natural upper body and leg strength.
Devi's accomplishments in archery are extraordinary, particularly given her unique technique. Unlike her competitors, Devi shoots while seated on a chair, raising the bow with her right leg, pulling the string with her right shoulder, and releasing it with her jaw. Her gear, customized by her coach Vedwan using locally-sourced materials, includes an upper-body strap and a small instrument held in her mouth to help release the arrow.
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