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A landmark moment
India is witnessing a very special moment in sports. Sheetal Devi, an 18-year-old para-archer from Jammu & Kashmir, has become the first Indian [[para-athlete::A sportsperson with a physical disability who competes in para-sports events.]] ever selected to compete with able-bodied archers.Â
She will take part in the Asia Cup Stage 3 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 10 to 15 December 2025.
Her achievement proves that hard work and skill matter more than physical conditions.
Who is Sheetal Devi?
Sheetal was born in 2007 with phocomelia, a rare condition because of which she has no arms. But she never let this stop her.
In 2019, her talent was noticed at a youth event organised by the Indian Army. Her coaches then designed special equipment for her, inspired by American armless archer Matt Stutzman.
Her rise since then has been nothing short of [[spectacular::Very impressive, exciting, or amazing to see.]]. She won two golds and a silver at the 2022 Asian Para Games, followed by two more golds in Hangzhou in 2023.
She became India’s youngest Paralympic medallist when she won a bronze at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, and in 2025, became the first woman without arms to win a World Para Archery Championship.
By this time, she had reached World No. 1 in para archery rankings. She has also won the [[Arjuna award::A prestigious Indian national award given to outstanding sportspersons for their achievements.]] for her extraordinary feats.
How does she do archery?
Sheetal uses a 53-pound [[compound bow::A modern bow that uses pulleys and cables to make shooting arrows easier and more powerful.]], but she shoots with her feet instead of her hands. She sits on a chair and lifts the bow with her toes.
She then loads the arrow using her right foot and uses a release aid attached to her chest. She pulls the bow by pushing her legs forward, instead of pulling the string.
She says that her strong balance comes from years of climbing trees in her village.
How did she join the able-bodied team?
Sheetal did not get any special entry; it was pure merit.
She earned her place by beating more than 60 [[able-bodied::A person who does not have a physical disability and can move normally.]] archers in four days of trials. She also had to relearn her technique because of a new rule about how her foot could touch the bow.
Para archery allows special equipment for athletes with disabilities, while able-bodied archery has stricter rules and no extra support.
Despite these differences, Sheetal matched the scores with the top archers. In the [[trials::Competitions or tests used to select the best athletes for a team or event.]], she scored 703 out of 720, one of the highest scores.
Her selection proves that para-athletes can compete at the same level when they get equal training and support.
What we learn from her
Sheetal’s journey teaches us that courage and effort can break any barrier. She shows that dreams stay strong no matter what challenges we face.
Her appearance at the Asia Cup will remind everyone that limits can be changed by those brave enough to try.
Quick revision
Sheetal Devi is the first Indian para-athlete selected to compete with able-bodied archers at the Asia Cup in December 2025.
Born without arms, she shoots with her feet and has won major medals, including Asian Para Games golds and a 2024 Paralympic bronze.
She scored 703/720 and beat over 60 able-bodied archers in the 2025 trials to earn her spot.
