Sheetal Devi Misses Paralympic Record by One Point in Paris 2024

When Sheetal Devi, born on 2007-01-10 in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, stepped onto the range at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, the world watched a 17‑year‑old rewrite what a young athlete can achieve with virtually no arms. The Indian compound para‑archer, who had already made history by becoming the youngest Indian Paralympic medalist, fired a qualification round that fell just a single point shy of the standing Paralympic record. The near‑miss turned heads, sparked debate, and proved that a dream forged in the mountains of Kashmir can echo across the Eiffel Tower.

From Kishtwar to the Global Stage

Devi’s story begins in the remote hills of Kishtwar, where she was born with phocomelia – a condition that left her without upper limbs. Most children in her village would never see a bow, let alone hold one. Yet, a local sports officer introduced her to the sport using a custom‑made release mechanism attached to her forearms. Within months, she was shooting at a level that made coaches from the national para‑archery program sit up straight.

Her rapid ascent led to a debut at the 2022 Asian Para Games, where she captured a silver medal in the individual compound. That performance caught the eye of World Archery, which later offered her a scholarship and access to cutting‑edge equipment. The partnership was a turning point, giving her the technical support to compete against seasoned veterans.

Paris 2024 Paralympics: A Near‑Record Qualification

In the mixed team compound event, Devi partnered with seasoned archer Praveen Jadhav. Together they raced through the elimination rounds, ultimately seizing a bronze medal after a tense shoot‑off against the host nation France. The real headline, however, came during the individual ranking round.

Devi clocked a score of 702 out of a possible 720, just one point shy of the Paralympic record of 703 set by South Korea’s Kim Hee‑Jin in 2020. The margin was razor‑thin – roughly the width of a fingertip on a standard target face. "I felt the wind shift, and my heartbeat slowed," Devi later told reporters. "It was as if time stretched, and I could focus on the colour of the target instead of the crowds. The pressure wasn’t big; it was just a gentle nudge."

The one‑point gap sparked a flurry of social media commentary. Some fans argued the difference was trivial, while others noted that a new record would have bolstered India’s standing in para‑archery on the world map. Regardless, the performance cemented her status as a world‑record holder in qualification rounds, a title she now carries with quiet pride.

World Championships 2025: Victory in Gwangju

Just a year after Paris, Devi travelled to Gwangju, South Korea, for the 2025 World Archery Para Championships. There, she faced Turkey’s rising star Oznur Cure Girdi in a nail‑biting final. With a final score of 146‑143, Devi clinched the gold, becoming the youngest world champion in the discipline at age 18.

"I had a dream I would become world champion," she said in an interview with World Archery. "It made me want to work. I worked and worked and today I've got such a good result." Her composure in Gwangju mirrored the calm she displayed in Paris – a breath‑steadying technique that coaches now study in training camps across Asia.

Reactions from the Indian Sports Establishment

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports released a statement lauding Devi’s achievements, noting that she “has redefined the possibilities for athletes with disabilities in India.” The statement also highlighted her receipt of the Arjuna Award in 2023, making her one of the youngest awardees in the category’s history.

Former Olympic archer Deepika Kumari praised Devi’s mental resilience: "She teaches us that the bow is not just a weapon, it’s an extension of the mind. Sheetal’s focus is something every archer should emulate." Critics, however, pointed to the missed record as a missed opportunity to attract greater sponsorship for para‑sports. "A world record would have drawn more corporate attention," one analyst noted, “but her bronze still shines bright for a country still building its para‑sport infrastructure.”

What Lies Ahead for the Young Champion

Looking forward, Devi has set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, where she aims to convert her near‑miss into a record‑breaking performance. She plans to work with a sports psychologist to sharpen the mental edge that helped her stay calm under pressure.

Beyond competition, she is also a vocal advocate for accessibility in sports equipment. In a recent workshop in Delhi, she demonstrated a 3‑D‑printed release aid that allows shooters with limited limb function to achieve greater stability. The device, still in prototype, has attracted interest from the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

• Born: 10 January 2007, Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir.
• Paralympic debut: Bronze, mixed team compound, Paris 2024.
• Qualification score in Paris: 702/720 (1 point shy of record).
• World Champion: Gwangju 2025, defeating Oznur Cure Girdi 146‑143.
• Arjuna Award recipient: 2023.

Why This Matters

Devi’s journey underscores a broader shift in Indian para‑sports – from peripheral curiosity to mainstream achievement. Her story inspires not only aspiring archers but also countless youngsters facing physical challenges. If she can turn a one‑point gap into a world record in Los Angeles, the ripple effect could reshape funding, media coverage, and public perception of athletes with disabilities across the subcontinent.