When 18-year-old Sheetal Devi clinched the Compound Women’s Open Individual Gold at the 2025 Para Archery World Championships in Gwangju, she didn’t just win a medal she announced India’s arrival as a dominant force in global para archery.
Born without arms and shooting entirely with her feet, Sheetal’s ascent from a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir to the pinnacle of world sport is as much a story of human grit as it is of cutting-edge training, biomechanical innovation, and strategic planning . The final in Gwangju was a high-stakes rematch of para archery’s fiercest rivalry. Sheetal faced Turkey’s reigning Paralympic and World Champion Öznur Cüre Girdi, who had narrowly defeated her in the 2023 World Championship final. This time, Sheetal produced a masterclass of precision, defeating Girdi 146-143 .
Her victory was sealed with a flawless final end of 30 points, three arrows perfectly in the 10-ring, underlining her exceptional mental control and technical mastery.
This gold was the crown jewel of a three-medal haul:
- Individual Gold (def. Girdi 146-143)
- Women’s Doubles Silver (with Sarita, lost to Turkey 148-152)
- Mixed Team Bronze (with Toman Kumar, def. Great Britain 152-149) .
The result not only avenged her 2023 defeat but confirmed India’s growing strength in compound para archery, a discipline long dominated by European and Turkish archers.
From Loidhar to the World Stage
Sheetal’s journey began far from India’s sporting hubs. Born on 10 January 2007 in the remote village of Loidhar in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, she was diagnosed with phocomelia, a rare condition that left her without arms . Her potential was first recognized in 2019 during a youth event attended by the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, which provided crucial early support for her education and training. This intervention highlights the importance of local institutional outreach in identifying para-sport talent beyond urban centres.
By 2022, Sheetal had entered international competition, quickly progressing to the top tier. Her silver at the 2023 World Championships in Plzeň marked her global breakthrough. She followed it with double gold at the Asian Para Games, a bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, and now the ultimate prize: World Champion .
Competing Against the Best On Their Terms
Despite her disability, Sheetal competes in the Compound Women Open (CWO) category, where athletes are held to the same technical standards as able-bodied archers: identical draw weights, sight restrictions, and distances . Her ability to shoot scores like 146/150 in a world final demonstrates that her adaptive technique is not merely functional but fully competitive at the highest level. At the heart of Sheetal’s success lies a remarkably complex shooting technique an innovation blending biomechanics, engineering, and raw athleticism .
- Loading: Using the fine motor control of her right foot, she nocks the arrow onto the bowstring.
- Grip and Setup: Her foot stabilizes the bow while she attaches the string to a chest-mounted release aid.
- Draw: Sitting upright, she uses her leg and core muscles to push the bow forward, generating the power needed for full draw weight.
- Anchor and Aim: The release aid aligns near her jaw to establish a repeatable reference point.
- Release: A subtle shoulder or jaw movement triggers the shot, ensuring a clean, torque-free release .
This kinetic chain demands immense lower-body and core strength, as well as balance and flexibility. It also requires highly customized equipment, including a modified index release and a specially adapted compound bow. Maintaining this setup in India presents unique challenges, from sourcing specialized parts to ensuring equipment redundancy to avoid mechanical failures like the pulley issue that forced teammate Rakesh Kumar to withdraw mid-final.
Sheetal’s rivalry with Öznur Cüre Girdi has driven performance levels to unprecedented heights. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Sheetal briefly held the world ranking round record with a score of 703, only for Girdi to surpass her minutes later with 704 . This constant back-and-forth underscores the razor-thin margins at the elite level and the need for continual innovation in training and equipment.
Sheetal’s rise reflects not just individual brilliance but a coordinated national effort. She is a Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) core athlete, receiving monthly stipends and funding for training, physiotherapy, and international travel . NGOs like Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) supplement this with nutrition, equipment support, and coaching expertise. Early assistance from the Indian Army provided the launchpad, illustrating the value of multi-stakeholder collaboration in para-sport development.
Her success has sparked what many call the “Sheetal Effect” a surge of interest in para-sports across India, inspiring new athletes and encouraging government investment, including the expansion of initiatives like the Khelo India Para Games .
At 18, Sheetal’s competitive window stretches at least through the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Experts recommend strategic investments to maintain her edge:
- Adaptive Equipment R&D to counter supply chain challenges and keep pace with global innovation.
- Coach Development Programs to transfer the specialized knowledge of foot-draw mechanics.
- Holistic Athlete Management, including injury prevention for her core and lower body, and psychological training to handle growing media attention .
Sheetal Devi’s journey from Kishtwar to Gwangju encapsulates the future of Indian sport: talent discovered in remote regions, supported by robust national programs, and refined through science and innovation. Her historic gold is not just a personal triumph but a national milestone proof that with vision, investment, and unwavering determination, India can produce para-athletes who dominate the world stage.
As the next Paralympic cycle unfolds, Sheetal stands not just as a champion, but as the face of a new Indian para archery revolution.
