Sheetal Devi: Born without arms, she learned to shoot with her feet and became a world champion, Paralympic medallist and double gold winner at the 2026 Asian Para Games

A bow is usually held with one hand and drawn with the other. For Sheetal Devi, neither of those movements was an option. Born without arms, the young archer from Jammu and Kashmir had to find a way to make the equipment work with the body she had. Her answer was a technique that is now recognised around the world. She steadies the bow with her foot, uses her shoulder to draw the string and releases the arrow with the help of her mouth. It is a demanding combination of balance, strength and control. And it has taken years of practice to perfect.Today, Devi is a Paralympic bronze medallist, a world champion and one of India's most celebrated para-archers. At the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, she added another major achievement to her record, winning two gold medals and a silver. But the medals tell only part of the story. Her journey is also about learning a skill in an entirely different way, accepting setbacks and continuing to improve.From everyday tasks to an unexpected sporting opportunityBorn on January 10, 2007, in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheetal grew up in the village of Loidhar. She learnt to perform everyday activities, including writing and eating, using her feet. These early experiences helped her develop the balance and control that would later become important in archery. Her sporting journey began to take shape after she was noticed at an Indian Army camp in 2019. The Army recognised her potential and helped her access educational and medical support. She eventually joined the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex in Katra, where she was introduced to sports.Coach Kuldeep Vedwan played an important role in guiding her towards para-archery. The sport was not an obvious choice, given that conventional archery depends heavily on the use of both arms. Yet her coach and the training team worked with her to explore a method that suited her abilities.At first, even lifting and controlling the bow was difficult. She had to build strength and learn how to coordinate different parts of her body. Training included resistance-band exercises, strength work and shooting at targets placed only a few metres away. With time, she developed the balance and control required to shoot at the standard competition distance of 50 metres. The process was gradual. Each practice session helped her understand what worked, what needed to change and how to make her movements more consistent.A technique built through patience and practiceSheetal's shooting style attracts attention because it looks very different from conventional archery. However, the technique is not a shortcut. It requires precise positioning, strong leg muscles, a stable body and careful control over every movement. She holds the bow with her foot and uses her shoulder to pull the string. A release aid held in her mouth helps her release the arrow. The sequence must be repeated with accuracy, even when the weather, wind or competition pressure makes shooting more difficult.Her progress soon began to show in international competitions. At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, she won gold in the women's individual compound event and the mixed team event, along with a silver medal in women's doubles. She also won silver at the 2023 World Archery Para Championships. The next major milestone came at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Partnering with Rakesh Kumar, she won bronze in the mixed team compound event. At 17, she became India's youngest Paralympic medallist. Although she missed an individual podium finish in Paris, the experience became another stage in her development.In an interview with World Archery in October 2025, after winning the individual world title in Gwangju, South Korea, Sheetal spoke about the doubts she had faced. "I never paid attention to them; I just stayed focused on my game," she said. She also spoke about how rewarding it was to see young girls from distant places express an interest in taking up archery after watching her.Two gold medals, one silver and a bigger messageSheetal returned to the Asian Para Games in 2026 with the aim of defending the titles she had won in Hangzhou. She delivered two gold-medal performances in Japan, retaining the women's individual compound title and winning the compound mixed team event with Toman Kumar. She also earned silver in women's doubles with Payal Nag, completing a three-medal campaign.Speaking to the Asian Paralympic Committee after the victories, she said, "I'm very happy – two gold medals and a silver in my second Asian Para Games. It feels all the hard work done in the past years was rewarded in one day. She also explained how she approached the pressure of the final: "I was just thinking to shoot my best; follow the process." It was a simple description of the focus that has shaped her career.Her story has reached people well beyond the archery field. In a 2024 interview with World Archery, Sheetal spoke about receiving messages from children with disabilities who wanted to follow her example. She said she hoped more people would believe they could achieve something despite their disabilities. She also urged parents to support their children and recognise what they are capable of.Sheetal shares updates through her Instagram account, @sheetal_archery. The belief, along with the training and support she has received, has helped her build a career on her own terms. Her achievements are not simply a story of winning despite a physical condition. They are also a reminder that sporting skill is developed through technique, coaching, practice and the willingness to keep learning. For anyone watching her take aim, the arrow reaching the target may last only a moment. 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