Sheetal Devi: An Epitome of Perseverance

अप्राप्यं नाम नेहास्ति धीरस्य व्यवसायिनः ॥
(there is nothing unattainable in this world for the steadfast and determined.’)

This is a verse from an ancient Indian text, Kathasaritsagara (Verse 12.20.23), written by Somadeva in the 11th Century, and it eloquently captures the spirit of perseverance. The phrase contains the tools needed to eliminate the issues undermining and obstructing our progress. One such thing is determination. It also claims that one must strive for what one needs with bravery. Achievers endeavour to accomplish the unattainable by relying on their tenacity to succeed. They increase their chances of accomplishing the seemingly impossible with perseverance and hard work.

India is full of anecdotes that eloquently depict the belief and determination of those who accomplish what seems impossible. A para-athlete from Jammu and Kashmir, 16-year-old Sheetal Devi is a living example of such achievement. She is an armless archer from Kishtwar, Jammu, who received considerable recognition after winning gold medals in the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, in October 2023. Sheetal was born with phocomelia, a disease that results in underdeveloped limbs. She started training for the sport just two years ago. These medals therefore mark a significant turning point in her career.

Beyond her individual accomplishments, Sheetal’s achievements at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in 2023 were remarkable. Alongside her team mate Sarita, she won a silver medal in the women’s team competition. In the mixed team competition, she also won a gold medal with her partner, Rakesh Kumar.

Her first exposure to archery began in 2019 when the Indian Army saw her during a youth sports tournament in Kishtwar. The initial plan was to equip her with a prosthetic arm, but when that didn’t work out, she was introduced to archery. Sheetal became a member of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex in Katra. The two instructors in the centre, Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Vedwan, had never trained an athlete without arms before. But they had seen American silver medalist Matt Stutzman use his legs to take a shot in the 2012 London Paralympics. Taking a cue from this, they improved based on what they witnessed Mark Stutzman doing.

Sheetal began by shooting 50-100 arrows each day, and as the power in her legs increased, she started practising while shooting 300 arrows daily. Six months later, Sheetal won silver in the Para Open Nationals in Sonipat and fourth at the Open Nationals against non-disabled archers. That marked the beginning of her mission to make her country proud, which she did at the Para Asian Games. She was commended by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on her win.

Sheetal’s journey is very inspirational. She has gone a long way from being a schoolgirl to bagging medals at the Asian Para Games. Her story offers a big motivation for breaking down barriers, overcoming adversity and hitting the target, both in archery and in life.

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