She Was Born Without Arms But Won World Championships Gold. Now This 18-Year-Old Indian Will Compete With Able-Bodied Athletes

Last Updated:November 07, 2025, 16:01 IST

Her story is nothing short of an inspiration and she continues to break new grounds.

Archer Sheetal Devi from India prepares to fire during the Paralympic Games in Paris. (File Photo/PTI)

Four world championship medals – a gold, two silver, and a bronze. A Paralympic bronze. Three medals at the Asian Para Games and two at the Asian Championships. And counting.

At just 18, Indian archer Sheetal Devi has built an extraordinary resume – while overcoming immense challenges. Born without arms due to phocomelia, a rare condition that prevents full limb development, Sheetal has turned adversity into strength.

Hailing from Loidhar village in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, she grew up climbing trees – unknowingly building the upper-body strength that would later define her sporting success.

Her talent was first spotted at a youth event organised by the Indian Army. But her early days in archery were marked by struggle. Prosthetics didn’t work. Eventually, inspired by the legendary Matt Stutzman, Sheetal learned to use her legs to hold the bow and her mouth to notch arrows – developing a unique, unorthodox shooting style. And thus began her remarkable journey.

At 16, she captured gold at the Asian Games and followed it up with silver at the World Championships. Under coach Kuldeep Vedwan, she underwent a rigorous training regimen that propelled her among the world’s leading para-archers. The results soon followed — double gold in Individual and Mixed Team events at the 2023 Asian Para Games, silver at the 2023 World Archery Para Championships, and multiple podium finishes at the Asian Para Championships. She also claimed bronze in the Mixed Team Compound Open Archery event alongside Rakesh Kumar.

Sheetal Creates World Championships History

At the 2025 World Para Archery Championships, Sheetal etched her name in history as the first female armless world champion in para-archery, defeating Turkey’s Oznur Cure Girdi 146–143 to realise her dream.

“I had a dream I would become world champion. It made me want to work. I worked and worked and today I’ve got such a good result," Sheetal told World Archery.

For her record-breaking achievements, Sheetal received the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting honour, in 2023.

Another Dream Unlocked

Last year, during a game show, Sheetal revealed another dream – to compete against able-bodied athletes. Today, that dream has come true. She has been selected for India’s able-bodied junior team for the upcoming Asia Cup Stage 3 in Jeddah, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to achieve the feat.

Competing under identical conditions with over 60 able-bodied archers at the national selection trials in Sonipat, the 18-year-old finished third overall after four days of competition – scoring 703 points (352+351), matching top qualifier Tejal Salve’s total.

Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...Read More

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...

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News sports She Was Born Without Arms But Won World Championships Gold. Now This 18-Year-Old Indian Will Compete With Able-Bodied Athletes

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