Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 11: Eighteen-year-old Sheetal Devi continues to redefine possibility. Born without arms, the young archer has become the first Indian para athlete to earn a spot on the able-bodied national team after finishing third among 60 archers in the compound women’s trials for the upcoming Asia Cup in Jeddah.

Behind her historic achievement lies a story of innovation, resilience, and sheer willpower. Known for her ability to do everything with her feet — from writing to shooting — Sheetal’s determination has stunned even her trainers. “The more you think she can’t do something, the more she’ll prove you wrong,” says physiotherapist Aalaap Jawadekar, recalling how she once unlocked a jammed door with her toes inside the Paris Paralympics Village.

Coached by veteran trainer Kuldeep Vedwan, Sheetal was inspired by American archer Matt Stutzman, who shoots using a chest-mounted release aid. Vedwan designed a similar mechanism for Sheetal, enabling her to draw and release arrows using her chin and feet. Despite painful injuries early on, she adapted quickly, combining natural balance with scientific precision.

Her unique shooting action involves lifting a 53-pound bow with her toes, drawing with her hips and trunk, and releasing with flawless timing. “There’s a lot of isolation required between the trunk, hips, and feet — that’s where her accuracy comes from,” says Jawadekar.

From strength training to clay exercises that refine pressure control, Sheetal’s regimen is as unconventional as her journey. “She lifts dumbbells with her feet and holds them steady for minutes. It’s unbelievable,” says Jawadekar.

For Sheetal, what began as an act of defiance has become a symbol of limitless human potential — a reminder that strength is not in the arms, but in the will.