Sheetal Devi has been awarded the prestigious ‘Para Archer of the Year 2025’ by World Archery, marking a historic achievement for India in para sports.
The 19-year-old para archer from Jammu & Kashmir created history by becoming the first and only female armless archer to win a gold medal at the World Para Archery Championships 2025 (Gwangju, South Korea) in the women’s compound individual event.
Key Highlights
- Award: Para Archer of the Year 2025
- Awarding Body: World Archery
- Historic Achievement:
- First female armless archer to win World Championship gold
- Event: World Para Archery Championships 2025 (Gwangju, South Korea)
Major Achievements
| Event | Achievement |
| World Para Archery Championships 2025 | Gold (Individual), Silver (Women’s Team), Bronze (Mixed Team) |
| Paris Paralympics 2024 | Bronze (Mixed Team) |
| Asian Para Games 2022 | Silver |
| Asian Championships 2023 (Bangkok) | Silver |
Awards & Honours
- Arjuna Award (2024)
- World Archery Para Woman of the Year (2023)
- Asian Paralympic Committee Best Youth Athlete (2023)
- Recognition at Sportstar Aces Awards (2024)
- Named Female Para Sportsperson of the Year (2026) at
Times of India Sports Awards
Unique Technique
- Born without arms, she uses:
- Feet, legs, and shoulder to draw and release the bow
- Demonstrates exceptional:
- Precision
- Balance
- Mental strength
Considered a remarkable example of adaptability and determination in sports
Other Winners – World Archery Awards 2025
| Category | Winner |
| Archer of the Year | Emircan Haney (Turkey) |
| Young Archer of the Year | Baptiste Addis (France) |
| Best Team of the Year | Korea Recurve Men’s Team |
About World Archery Awards
- Instituted: 2011
- Purpose:
- Recognise excellence in international archery
- Honour top performers of the season
- Categories include:
- Archer of the Year
- Para Archer of the Year
- Young Archer
- Team Awards