You’ll remember Sheetal Devi as the para-archer who won gold at the Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China.

Sheetal Devi is now setting her eyes on gold once again as she is set to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

The teenage girl from Jammu and Kashmir is renowned as the world’s first armless female archer.

Born with phocomelia, a rare medical condition that affected her arm development, Devi’s journey into sport has been one lined by resilience.

She received guidance from former archer and coach Kuldeep Vedwan. Under his guidance, she developed and refined her skills to adopt a technique of utilising her feet and legs for shooting.

While other archers pride themselves on their arm strength and dexterity, Sheetal credited her legs for this.

Using her upper body and lower limbs to shoot the arrow, she also emerged as the first armless woman to clinch a Para World Archery Championships medal in 2023.

At the Para Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, Devi won three medals — two gold and one silver, becoming the first Indian woman athlete to claim two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games.

She also succeeded in bagging a silver medal in the women’s doubles competition. She continued to showcase her skills at the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Para Games 2023, clinching a gold medal.

As Devi stands on the precipice of yet another milestone at the Paralympics, India is confident her resilience will shine through.