Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 30: India’s young para archer Sheetal Devi has been honoured with the ‘Para Archer of the Year 2025’ award by World Archery.

The 19-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir made history as the first and only female armless archer to win gold at the World Para Archery Championships. She achieved the feat by clinching the top spot in the women’s compound individual event at Gwangju, South Korea, last year.

Sheetal also delivered an impressive all-round performance at the World Championships, securing a silver medal in the women’s team event and a bronze in the mixed team category.

Adding to her achievements, she won a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the Paris Paralympics and earlier claimed individual silver medals at the 2022 Asian Para Games and the 2023 Asian Championships in Bangkok.

The World Archery Awards, instituted in 2011, recognise excellence and outstanding contributions to the sport globally. This year, the awards were presented across eight categories.

In other honours, Emircan Haney was named ‘Archer of the Year’, while Baptiste Addis received the ‘Young Archer of the Year’ award. Korea’s recurve men’s team was adjudged the ‘Best Team of the Year’.