Armless archer Sheetal Devi recalls support from academy in heartfelt post
Armless archer Sheetal Devi went back to her roots after her bronze finish in the Paris Paralympics. The young star took to her Twitter account to share a heartfelt note about her first academy, thanking them for their support at the beginning of her journey.
Sheetal Devi clinched the bronze medal in the mixed team compound event alongside her partner, Rakesh Kumar. The duo triumphed over Italy’s Matteo Bonacina and Eleonora, winning 156-155 at the historic Invalides venue. This victory marked a significant achievement for the young archer on the global stage.
“I never played sports in my village or dreamt of being an archer. Yet, destiny had other plans. In April 2022, I nervously entered the Shrine Board Sports Complex at 15. The stunning surroundings felt oddly familiar,” Sheetal Devi wrote on Twitter.
“Some encouraged me; others laughed, calling archery a mistake. I tuned out the noise, focused on the bullseye, and started training at the sports complex which felt like HOME. Little did I know, this haven would nurture my growth and transformation amidst Maa Vaishno Devi’s majestic foothills. Destiny’s unknown, but with courage and faith, we can write our own story,” she further added.
Sheetal had started off her campaign in a brilliant manner in the women’s compound event. In the qualification round, she finished second with a score of 703. She broke the world record and was set to finish on top. However, Turkey’s Oznur Girdi broke her record to finish on top in the qualifications.
But the 17-year-old Sheetal had to face heartbreak after losing by 1 point to Chile’s Mariana Zuniga. The armless archer, however, has garnered praise for his grit and determination to perform well at the world level. Last year, she won the gold medal in the mixed team and women’s compound event at the Para Asian Games.
