news details |
|
|
| Jammu’s ‘Golden Girl’ Shines Again | | | Jammu’s ‘Golden Girl’ Sheetal Devi and the reigning world champion has once again made the country proud by clinching her maiden individual title on the World Archery Para Series circuit in a nerve-shredding shoot-off. It is far more than a sporting achievement. It is a powerful story of determination, resilience and the refusal to allow physical limitations to define one’s destiny.
Beyond her personal triumph, Sheetal’s gold crowned a landmark occasion: India’s first-ever hosting of a World Archery Para Series event.
Born without arms, she made history in 2025 by becoming the first armless woman to win a para archery world title, defeating defending champion Öznur Cüre Girdi 146-143 at the World Archery Para Championships in Gwangju and since then she has not looked back. Her journey has already inspired millions, but her achievements continue to raise the bar.
Sheetal’s success highlights the transformative power of sport. Para-sport is not merely about competition or medals; it is about creating opportunities, changing perceptions and demonstrating that talent can flourish when determination is matched by access, training and institutional support. Athletes like Sheetal challenge society to look beyond disability and recognise ability.
Her story should also encourage greater investment in para-sports across the country. India has produced several outstanding para-athletes in recent years, and their performances have shown that the country possesses immense talent.
For Jammu and Kashmir, Sheetal’s achievements carry a special emotional resonance. The Union Territory has repeatedly produced sportspersons who have excelled nationally and internationally despite limited resources. Her rise from Jammu to the global sporting stage should inspire parents, schools and institutions to identify and nurture sporting talent, including among children with disabilities.
There is another lesson in Sheetal’s journey: success is rarely defined by what one possesses, but by how one uses what one has. She has mastered the bow and arrow through extraordinary skill, balance, concentration and perseverance. Her medals are therefore not simply symbols of victory; they represent the triumph of human potential over perceived limitations.
As Sheetal continues her remarkable journey, India must ensure that her success becomes part of a larger movement to make para-sports more accessible, professional and respected. Champions should not merely be celebrated after winning medals; they should be supported throughout the journey that makes those medals possible.
Sheetal Devi has already shown the world what determination can achieve. Her golden arrows are not only finding targets—they are breaking barriers and redefining possibilities. For countless young Indians, especially those living with disabilities, she is a living message: limitations may shape the journey, but they need not determine the destination. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
