Sheetal Devi, who is a 17-year-old archer left the crowd at the Paris Paralympics 2024 awestruck with her talent and unwavering devotion to the game. Securing the bronze medal at the Mixed Compound event along with Rakesh Kumar, Sheetal Devi archer has left us all stunned with her determination.
Sheetal Devi was born in 2007 with a rare congenital disorder called phocomelia, as a result, her arms have not fully formed. However, despite her challenges she has been considered as among the top successful athletes in India.
At the Paris Paralympics this year, Sheetal Devi archer along with Rakesh Kumar competed against Italy’s Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Boncia, securing a victory by a single point with the scoreline of 156-155. Their nail-biting match against Italy had everyone rooting for this duo.
While Sheetal Devi was the only armless female archer at the Paris Games this year, 39-year-old Rakesh Kumar has suffered from a debilitating spinal cord injury which has limited his movements to a wheelchair. This was Rakesh Kumar’s first Paralympic medal which he achieved after years of hard work and dedication. Prior to this, he was the gold medalist at the Para World Championship and Asian Para Games. Sheetal Devi had also won three medals at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year, which included two gold medals in the individual and mixed team compound competition, and a silver in the doubles compound competition.
Sheetal Devi’s Paralympics performance has left spectators in awe of her ability to compete, serving as an inspiration to many. With Sheetal Devi’s medal achievements and her glory at the Paris Paralympics, we truly salute her fearless spirit.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is accurate only as of the date of publication.