Eighteen-year-old Sheetal Devi from Jammu and Kashmir scripted history by becoming the women’s compound individual world champion at the 2025 World Para Archery Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Born without arms due to a rare congenital condition, Sheetal defied the odds by defeating world No. 1 Oznur Cure Girdi of Turkiye 146-143.
This is her third medal at the championships, adding to a mixed team bronze and a women’s team silver. Officials and experts worldwide praised her technique, mental fortitude, and groundbreaking achievement that has brought immense pride to India’s para-sport community.
Phenomenal Skill and Composure Under Pressure
In what was a rematch of the 2023 final, Sheetal displayed remarkable calm and precision throughout the tense contest. After tying the first end 29-29, she scored a perfect 30 in the second end while her opponent dropped three points, which gave her a critical lead. Despite intense pressure, Sheetal, shooting with her feet and chin due to phocomelia, maintained steady scoring to close the match with an impressive final end of three perfect arrows summing to 30 points.
She reflected on her victory saying, “The pressure wasn’t great. I controlled myself and shot very calmly. My heartbeat wasn’t so fast, so there was less pressure.” Her parents and sports officials lauded her relentless work ethic and inspiring perseverance, with one official calling her “a symbol of determination and the spirit of Indian sport.”
Background: Overcoming Challenges, Inspiring Generations
Born without arms, Sheetal learned to use her feet to hold the bow and her mouth to notch arrows on a specially designed device attached to her shoulder. Her early achievements include Asian Games gold in 2022 and a World Championship silver in 2023, followed by a Paralympic mixed team bronze. At Gwangju, besides her individual gold, Sheetal won bronze in the mixed team event with Toman Kumar and silver in the women’s compound team event with Sarita.
The team final was a closely contested match in which India narrowly lost 148-152 to Turkiye. Sheetal’s consistent podium finishes at major international championships mark her as one of the most promising figures in para-archery globally.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Sheetal Devi’s extraordinary journey embodies resilience, courage, and the triumph of human spirit over adversity. It challenges societal misconceptions about disability and highlights the importance of inclusive support for differently-abled athletes.
Indian sports’ expanding success in para-archery is a celebration of talent nurtured through dedication and equitable opportunities. The Logical Indian stands committed to amplifying such inspiring narratives that foster empathy, harmony, and positive social change.
