New Delhi: Differently-abled world champion para-archer Sheetal Devi has become the first athlete from India to be selected to represent the nation in an able-bodied competition at the international level. The 18-year-old will participate alongside able-bodied archers in the compound section at the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025 Stage 3, scheduled in Jeddah from Dec 9-16. Sheetal, who competes from a seated position due to a rare congenital condition called phocomelia that left her without arms, earned her place in a 16-member Indian recurve and compound archery squad after finishing third overall in the trials held at the SAI Centre in Sonepat. She competed alongside 60 able-bodied girl archers over four days and cemented her spot in the national squad by scoring 703 points in the qualification rounds – 352 in the first and 351 in the second. India traditionally sends its junior archers for different stages of the Asia Cup. While para-athletes such as high jumper Praveen Kumar, javelin thrower Sumit Antil, and pistol shooter Manish Narwal have competed nationally in able-bodied competitions, Sheetal’s selection marks the first time a para-athlete has been chosen to represent India internationally in an able-bodied meet. “When I started competing, I had a small dream — to one day compete alongside the able-bodied. I didn’t make it at first, but I kept going, learning from every setback. Today, that dream is one step closer,” the para-archer from Jammu & Kashmir’s Katra wrote on her social media page. Speaking to TOI, the Paris Paralympics bronze medallist in the mixed team compound event said that she drew inspiration from Turkiye’s Paralympics and former world champion Oznur Cure Girdi, who also competes in able-bodied events. “If she can do it, why not I? I don’t consider myself any lesser than able-bodied athletes. I had been competing in trials but wasn’t getting selected for the Indian team. This time, I secured my place for the Asia Cup,” she said.
