Sheetal Devi: The Armless Indian Archer Aiming for Paris Paralympics Gold

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Seventeen-year-old Sheetal Devi hailing from the Jammu district of India is making waves in the world of archery with her extraordinary skill and determination. Born with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder that left her without arms, Devi has defied the odds to become one of the world's top para-archers.

As she prepares for the upcoming Paralympics in Paris, which begins on August 28, Devi is laser-focused on one goal: Winning gold.

A Unique Technique and Unwavering Focus

In a training academy in India, Devi practices with intense concentration, seated on a chair as she prepares her shot. Unlike her opponents who stand traditionally, Devi uses her right leg to raise the bow, her right shoulder to pull back the string, and the strength of her jaw to release the arrow. Throughout this intricate process, her calm demeanour never falters—a testament to her mental fortitude.

Sheetal Devi’s journey to becoming an elite archer is nothing short of inspiring. Despite her challenges, she has emerged as one of the few female archers in the world to compete without arms. The Asian Para Games gold medallist now has her sights set on the Paralympics, motivated by her previous successes. "I am inspired to win the gold," Devi was quoted as saying by BBC. “Whenever I see the medals I have won [until now], I feel inspired to win more. I have only just started."

Archery has been part of the Paralympic Games since their inception in 1960. Countries like Great Britain, the USA, and South Korea have traditionally dominated the sport, while India has secured just one bronze medal in 17 editions. Para-archers are classified based on the severity of their impairments, which also determines the equipment they can use and the distances they must shoot.

Competitors in the W1 category, for instance, are wheelchair users with impairments in at least three of their four limbs, while those in the open category, like Devi, have impairments in either the upper or lower body or on one side of their body. These athletes may shoot from a standing position, a stool, or a wheelchair using either recurve or compound bows.

Devi currently holds the world number one ranking in the compound open women's category. Her silver medal at the 2023 Para-Archery World Championship secured her a spot at the Paris Games, where she will face formidable opponents, including world number three Jane Karla Gogel and reigning World Champion Oznur Cure. Despite the tough and intense competition, those who know her believe she is destined for greatness.

“Sheetal [Devi] did not choose archery, archery chose Sheetal,” said Abhilasha Chaudhary, one of Devi’s national coaches (as quoted by BBC).

A Journey of Determination and Innovation

Born into a farming family in a small village, Devi had never seen a bow and arrow until she was 15. Her introduction to archery came in 2022 when she visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board sports complex in Katra, around 200 kilometers from her home. It was there that she met coaches Chaudhary and Kuldeep Vedwan, who immediately recognized her potential and introduced her to the sport. Devi soon relocated to a training camp in Katra, where her coaches were struck by her grit and determination.

The journey was far from easy. The coaches had to think creatively to leverage Devi’s strengths, particularly her legs and upper body. Devi’s ability to use her feet for daily activities such as writing and climbing trees became the foundation of her archery technique. However, her transition into archery wasn't without doubts. “I felt this was impossible,” she admitted. "My legs used to ache a lot, but somehow I did it."

During challenging times, Devi drew inspiration from American archer Matt Stutzman, who competes using his feet and a customized device. Although her family couldn't afford such a machine, her coach Vedwan took it upon himself to craft a bow suited to her needs using locally sourced materials. The makeshift gear includes an upper-body strap made from bag belt materials and a small device that Devi holds in her mouth to release the arrow.

Mastering the Art of Archery

The real challenge for Devi and her coaches was developing a technique that utilized more than just her legs. “We had to manage how to balance the strength in her legs, modify it, and use it technically,” Chaudhary explained. “Devi has strong legs, but we had to figure out how she would use her back to shoot.”

The team embarked on a disciplined training regimen, starting with Devi using a TheraBand instead of a bow to practice aiming at targets placed just 5 meters away. As her confidence and skills grew, so did the level of difficulty. Within four months, she progressed to using a proper bow and hitting targets 50 meters away, the competition standard for her category.

In just two years, Devi went from learning the basics of archery to achieving a stunning victory at the 2023 Asian Para Games, where she scored six consecutive 10s in the final of the women’s individual compound event to win the gold medal. For context, a 10 is the maximum score an archer can achieve with a single shot by hitting the bullseye.

“Even when I shoot a nine, I’m only thinking about how I can convert that into a 10 on the next shot,” Devi said, reflecting her relentless pursuit of perfection.

A Future Full of Promise

Devi’s rise in archery has come with significant sacrifices. She has not returned home since moving to Katra two years ago, fully dedicating herself to training. She plans to visit her family only after the Paralympics, "hopefully with a medal." Regardless of the outcome, Devi is determined to give her best effort. “I believe that no one has any limitations; it’s just about wanting something enough and working as hard as you can," she said. "If I can do it, anyone else can.”

As Devi heads to Paris, she carries with her not just the hopes of a nation but also the inspiring story of how passion, perseverance, and a never-give-up attitude can break through any barriers, even those that seem insurmountable.