Katra,November 7,2025-He was born in the dust of Dhanaura Tikri, a farmer’s son who once held a plough. Today, Kuldeep Kumar Vedwan holds the future of Indian para-archery in his calloused hands.At 45, the former Indian Army jawan has become the architect of India’s most inspiring sports story — training Sheetal Devi, Rakesh Kumar, and Payal Nag from broken bodies to global podiums using handmade bows, custom prosthetics, and unbreakable belief.
The Making of a Mentor
- 2012: Left Army to coach full-time
- 2017: Spotted Rakesh Kumar, wheelchair-bound and suicidal, at a Katra tea stall
- 2022: Built a prosthetic for quadruple-amputee Payal Nag after her viral plea
- 2023: Sheetal Devi becomes world’s first armless female champion under his guidance
“I don’t fix limbs. I fix hope.”
— Kuldeep Vedwan
Champions He Built
| Athlete | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Sheetal Devi | Armless village girl | Paris Paralympics Bronze, World Champion, Asia Cup Able-Bodied Squad |
| Rakesh Kumar | Paralyzed shopkeeper | Arjuna Award 2025, Paris Bronze, Double Asian Gold |
| Payal Nag | Quadruple amputee | Khelo India Silver 2025, shoots with mouth & shoulder latch |
The Katra Workshop
Under floodlights at SMVDSB Sports Complex, Vedwan’s academy runs on sweat and innovation:
- Hand-forged bows tailored to missing limbs
- Shoulder-triggered releases for armless archers
- Mouth-nocked arrows for quadruple amputees
- Free training for J&K’s underprivileged talent
