Sheetal Devi, the famous para-archer creates history. She became the first ever para-sports personality to have ensured a berth in an open archery championship, competing with normal athletes.

“When I started competing, I had a small dream — to one day compete alongside the able-bodied. I didn’t make it at first, but I kept going, learning from every setback. Today, that dream is one step closer,” Sheetal took to social media after the announcement.

Devi after sealing the world compound championship now will feature in the upcoming Asia Cup Stage 3 in Jeddah.

 Paralympic champion Oznur Cure Girdi — an athlete who also competes successfully in able-bodied events at the global stage.

Proving her own versatility, the 18-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir competed alongside more than 60 able-bodied archers from across the country under the same conditions, finishing an impressive third overall at the demanding four-day national selection trials in Sonipat.

Sheetal tallied a total of 703 points in the qualification rounds — scoring 352 in the first and 351 in the second — equalling top qualifier Tejal Salve’s aggregate.

In the final standings, Tejal led with 15.75 points, followed by Vaidehi Jadhav with 15, while Sheetal claimed third place with 11.75 points, narrowly edging out Maharashtra’s Dnyaneshwari Gadadhe by just 0.25 points.

Training at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex in Katra, Sheetal has already made history this year as the first female armless world champion in para archery.

Teams

Recurve: Men’s: Rampal Choudhary (AAI), Rohit Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Mayank Kumar (Haryana); Women: Kondapavuluri Yuktha Sri (Andhra Pradesh), Vaishnavi Kulkarni (Maharashtra), Kratika Bichpuriya (Madhya Pradesh).

Compound: Men: Pradhuman Yadav, Vasu Yadav, Devansh Singh (all Rajasthan); Women’s: Tejal Salve, Vaidehi Jadhav (both Maharashtra), Sheetal Devi (Jammu and Kashmir).