New Delhi – Sheetal Devi, 18, has made history by earning a spot on India’s junior archery squad for the Asia Cup Stage 3 in Jeddah. The achievement came after she finished third in the final women’s compound rankings at the national trials in Sonipat, a victory that will see her compete in an able‑bodied event for the first time.
Born without arms because of a rare congenital condition called phocomelia, Sheetal’s journey to the world stage has been story‑book like. “When I started competing, I had a small dream – to one day compete alongside the able‑bodied and win medals,” she told fans on X. “It took work and perseverance, but I kept learning from every setback. Now that dream is one step closer.”
Sheetal’s resume is already impressive. She captured gold in the compound women’s individual event at the World Archery Para Championships in Gwangju, Korea, and bagged silver in the team event and bronze in the mixed team event. In 2022 she won the compound women’s gold and a mixed‑team bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, while a silver at the 2023 World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen cemented her place among the world’s best.
She added another accolade with a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. “Dreams take time, effort, and belief,” she said. “Then you keep repeating that cycle until you reach the top.”
As Sheetal prepares to shoot in Jeddah, India’s archery community watches proudly. Her story shows that resilience and hard work can turn a challenging start into a world‑class triumph.
Source: ianslive
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