JAMMU – With a steely focus and unmatched determination, 17-year-old Sheetal Devi prepares for her next shot. Seated on a chair, she lifts her bow with her right leg, draws the string back with her shoulder, and releases the arrow using the strength of her jaw. The world watches in awe as she readies herself for the Paralympics, set to begin on August 28 in Paris.

Born with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder that left her without arms, Sheetal Devi has already made history as the world’s first—and only active—female archer to compete without arms. Despite her condition, the young archer from Jammu district has defied all odds, becoming a gold medalist at the Asian Para Games and now setting her sights on the Paralympic Games.

“I am inspired to win the gold,” Devi says. “Whenever I see the medals I have won [until now], I feel inspired to win more. I have only just started.”

Devi's journey to the top has been nothing short of extraordinary. Having picked up archery just two years ago, she is now ranked first in the world in the compound open women's category. Her meteoric rise in the sport was solidified in 2023 when she won a silver medal at the Para-Archery World Championship, securing her spot in the Paris Games.

At the Paralympics, she will face tough competition from seasoned archers, including world number three Jane Karla Gogel and reigning World Champion Oznur Cure. Yet, those who know her believe that Sheetal Devi was destined for this moment.

“Sheetal [Devi] did not choose archery, archery chose Sheetal,” says Abhilasha Chaudhary, one of Devi’s national coaches.

Born into a farming family in a small village, Devi had never seen a bow and arrow until she was 15. Her life changed in 2022 when she visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board sports complex in Katra, 200km from her home. There, she met Chaudhary and her other coach, Kuldeep Vedwan, who introduced her to archery. Recognizing her potential, they invited her to join a training camp in Katra.

Despite the monumental challenge of teaching someone to shoot a bow without arms, the coaches were inspired by Devi’s grit. Drawing on the strength she had developed in her legs from years of using them for daily activities, they began developing a technique that would allow her to compete.

Devi’s training began with simple exercises, using a rubber band instead of a bow and aiming at targets just 5 meters away. Within months, she progressed to using a real bow, hitting targets at the 50-meter distance required for her category.

But the journey was far from easy. "My legs used to ache a lot, but somehow I did it," Devi recalls. During tough times, she drew inspiration from American archer Matt Stutzman, who also shoots with his feet. Her coach, Kuldeep Vedwan, even designed a customized bow using locally sourced materials to suit her needs.

The customized gear includes an upper-body strap made from bag belt materials and a small instrument that Devi holds in her mouth to release the arrow. The real challenge, however, was figuring out how to harness her leg strength and incorporate her upper body into a sustainable technique.

“We had to manage how to balance the strength in her legs, modify it and use it technically,” Chaudhary explains. “Devi has strong legs, but we had to figure out how she would use her back to shoot.”

Through relentless practice and dedication, Devi quickly mastered her unique technique. In the final of the women’s individual compound event at the Asian Para Games in 2023, she achieved an incredible feat, hitting six consecutive 10s to win the gold medal.

“Even when I shoot a nine, I’m only thinking about how I can convert that into a 10 on the next shot,” Devi says.

Her success, however, has come at a personal cost. Devi has not returned home since moving to Katra two years ago to train, fully dedicating herself to her sport. She plans to visit her family only after the Paralympics, "hopefully with a medal."

Regardless of the outcome, Sheetal Devi remains undaunted. “I believe that no one has any limitations; it’s just about wanting something enough and working as hard as you can,” she says.

“If I can do it, anyone else can” said Devi, a powerful reminder of resilience, determination, and the boundless possibilities of the human spirit.