18-year-old Sheetal Devi created history at the Para World Archery Championships 2025 in South Korea. Born without fully developed arms, she didn’t let anything hold her back. Using just her feet and chin, she became the first armless woman to win gold in the women’s compound individual category at the 2025 Para World Archery Championships in South Korea. With The Junior Age, know all about Sheetal Devi’s winning moment.
Know all about how Sheetal Devi Makes History with Gold at the Para World Archery Championships 2025:
At just 18 years old, Sheetal Devi made history by becoming the first armless woman to win a gold medal in the women’s compound individual category at the 2025 Para World Archery Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. In a thrilling final, she defeated Oznur Cure Girdi, the world No.1 from Turkey, with a score of 146–143. Competing against top international athletes, Sheetal showcased exceptional skill and determination, solidifying her status as a rising star in para sports.
Sheetal started training in 2022, and within just 11 months, she was already winning medals at the Asian Para Games, including two golds and a silver.
Sheetal Devi And Her Numerous Wins
Sheetal didn’t just stop at her gold medal. She also teamed up with Sarita Adhana to win silver in the women’s team event and joined Toman Kumar to grab bronze in the mixed team event. Together, they showed that teamwork and determination can take you far.
Sheetal has already won India’s Arjuna Award, one of the country’s highest sports honours, and even set a world record in the 2024 Summer Paralympics ranking round.
In 2023, Sheetal Devi’s stellar debut season started with an individual silver at the World Archery Para Championships, becoming the first female armless archer to win a medal in the competition’s history. The medal also helped Sheetal obtain a quota for India for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Her impressive season continued at the Asian Para Games 2023 in October. She bagged gold medals in the individual compound and mixed team events, apart from winning the silver medal in the women’s doubles competition.
Sheetal Devi’s Early Days
Sheetal was born in Loidhar village in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, on January 10, 2007. Despite being born with a physical condition that posed inherent challenges, Sheetal Devi was athletically gifted and never let her limitations stop her from making the most of her childhood.
As a kid, Sheetal possessed a strong will and enjoyed climbing trees as a pastime. The activity helped her build a strong upper body, which proved to be a turning point later in her life.
In 2022, during a youth event organised by the Indian Army, coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Wadhwan noticed her incredible potential. That was the start of her journey into competitive archery, a journey that would soon make her a world champion.
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