Armless archer Sheetal Devi shone at the Paris Paralympics, becoming a highlight in the compound archery event. The 17-year-old Indian debutant displayed remarkable spirit and courage, nearly setting a world record in the ranking round before narrowly losing to Chile’s Mariana Zuniga in the pre-quarterfinals by just one point. The crowd at the Invalides, a venue known for hosting top archers, cheered her on despite her close defeat.
Sheetal captivated the audience with a perfect 10 in her pre-quarterfinal match, showcasing her consistency and accuracy after receiving a bye in the Round of 32. The crowd’s cheers and the commentator’s reactions set an exciting tone for the match. A video of her perfect shot went viral on social media, with many praising her incredible technique of shooting with her legs, jaw, and shoulders. Sheetal, a silver medalist at last year’s world championships, stands out as the only armless archer at the Paris Paralympics.
Despite a narrow 137-138 loss to Mariana Zuniga in the Round of 16, where nerves seemed to affect her final shots, Sheetal remains in contention for a medal. She will compete with Rakesh Kumar in the mixed compound event, where they are the top seeds after setting a world record in the mixed ranking round earlier in the week. They have a direct entry to the quarterfinals, scheduled for September 2.
TALE OF GRIT AND DETERMINATION of Sheetal Devi armless archer Paris Paralympics
A story of grit and determination, Sheetal was born with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder causing underdeveloped limbs. She defied the odds to become the first female archer to compete without arms. Her archery journey began at 15 when the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles noticed her talent. The Army supported her with education and medical care, leading to her introduction to archery. Her coaches, Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Wadhwan, initially considered prosthetics, but doctors deemed it impossible. Sheetal, however, impressed them with her tree-climbing skills using her legs, which gave them the confidence to train her in archery.
Inspired by armless archer Matt Stutzman, her coaches developed a unique training method. Within 11 months, Sheetal competed in the women’s compound bow at the 2022 Asian Para Games, winning two gold medals and a silver, becoming the first international para-archery champion without upper limbs.
Sheetal’s unique technique involves using her right leg and shoulder. She places the bow on the ground, loads the arrow with her right foot, and holds the bow with her leg, bringing it close to her chest. A strap around her upper body with a release aid above her right shoulder, manipulated by her leg, allows her to release the arrow with precision.
