Kashmir,November 7,2025-In a moment that will be etched in the annals of Indian sports history, Sheetal Devi, the 18-year-old armless archery sensation from Jammu and Kashmir, has shattered yet another barrier. She has become the first Indian para-archer to be selected for the national able-bodied junior team for an international tournament.Yes, you read that right — Sheetal Devi, who shoots with her feet, has earned her place among the country’s top able-bodied archers through sheer merit, not reservation.Selected for the Asia Cup Stage 3 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (December 10–15, 2025), Sheetal will represent India in the women’s compound team alongside Tejal Salve and Vaidehi Jadhav from Maharashtra.The Road to Jeddah: A Trial by FireThe selection trials were held in Sonipat, Haryana, where over 60 able-bodied archers competed for just three spots in the women’s compound category.Sheetal didn’t just participate — she dominated.
- Qualification Score: 703/720 (352 + 351)
— Tied for 1st with Tejal Salve - Final Ranking: 3rd with 11.75 points
— Edged out 4th-placed Dnyaneshwari Gadadhe by 0.25 points
She trained at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex in Katra under coach Shekhar Sharma, using a custom bow release triggered by her shoulder and foot coordination — a technique that has now become the gold standard in adaptive archery.A Champion Beyond LabelsThis isn’t Sheetal’s first time making history:
- 2023: Youngest World Para Archery Champion (Women’s Compound)
- 2024: Bronze at Paris Paralympics (Mixed Team)
- 2023: Two Golds at Asian Para Games, Hangzhou
- 2025: First armless female world champion in para archery history
Yet, she has always trained and competed with one dream:
“I don’t want to be the best para-archer. I want to be the best archer.”
— Sheetal Devi
And now, she’s one step closer.
The Full Indian Junior Squad for Asia Cup Stage 3
| Category | Athletes |
|---|---|
| Women’s Compound | Tejal Salve (MH), Vaidehi Jadhav (MH), Sheetal Devi (J&K) |
| Men’s Compound | Pradhuman Yadav (RJ), Vasu Yadav (RJ), Devansh Singh (RJ) |
| Women’s Recurve | Kondapavuluri Yuktha Sri (AP), Vaishnavi Kulkarni (MH), Kratika Bichpuriya (MP) |
| Men’s Recurve | Rampal Choudhary (AAI), Rohit Kumar (UP), Mayank Kumar (HR) |
From Katra to the World Stage
Sheetal’s journey began in the hills of Loj village, Kishtwar, where she was discovered by the Indian Army during a talent hunt. Today, she trains under floodlights at the SMVDSB complex, often practicing late into the night — barefoot, bow between toes, arrow nocked with precision.Her coach, Shekhar Sharma, says:
“The Asian Games 2026 trials are next. If she keeps this form, she’ll be there too.”
