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Sheetal Devi : World Archery’s Para Archer of the Year 2025
Sheetal Devi : World Archery’s Para Archer of the Year 2025
India’s teenage sensation Sheetal Devi was named World Archery’s Para Archer of the Year 2025 on March 30, 2026. This prestigious global honor recognizes her historic breakthrough season and her status as a trailblazer in the sport.
Key Highlights of the Achievement
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Historic First: At just 19 years old, the archer from Jammu and Kashmir is the first and only female armless archer to win gold at the World Para Archery Championships.
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The World Title: She secured her individual gold in the women’s compound event in Gwangju, South Korea, defeating Paralympic champion Oznur Cure Girdi in the final.
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Full Medal Set: During the same World Championships, she completed a "full set" of medals by also winning silver in the women’s team event and bronze in the mixed team category.
A Remarkable Season (2024–2026)
World Archery cited her "breakthrough season" as the primary reason for the award. Her recent trophy cabinet includes:
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Paris Paralympics: Bronze medal in the mixed team event (with Rakesh Kumar).
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Asian Para Games: Individual silver medal (2022 edition).
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Asian Championships: Individual silver medal in Bangkok (2023).
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Domestic Honors: Recipient of the Arjuna Award (2024) and the Times of India Female Para Sportsperson of the Year (2026).
The Unique Technique
Born with phocomelia (a condition where limbs are underdeveloped or absent), Sheetal is famous for her distinctive shooting style. She uses her feet, legs, and shoulder to draw the bow and release the arrow with incredible precision. Her success has not only earned her medals but has also challenged traditional perceptions of the sport; in December 2025, she even made history by being selected for India’s able-bodied compound team for the Asia Cup in Jeddah.
2025 World Archery Award Winners
The 2025 awards, which have been running since 2011, included other notable winners:
| Category | Winner |
| Para Archer of the Year | Sheetal Devi (India) |
| Archer of the Year | Emircan Haney (Turkey) |
| Young Archer of the Year | Baptiste Addis (France) |
| Best Team of the Year | Korea’s Recurve Men’s Team |
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