Para Sports
Sheetal Devi becomes first Indian archer to win World Archery award
16-year-old armless archer Sheetal Devi won the Best Female Para Archer of the Year award at the World Archery Awards 2023.
Sheetal Devi won three medals, including two gold, at the Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou.
World Championship silver and Para Asian Games gold medallist Sheetal Devi has been conferred with the Best Female Para Archer of the Year accolade at the World Archery Awards on Friday. The 16-year-old girl from Jammu and Kashmir became the first Indian archer to attain the feat.
Sheetal Devi put up brilliant performances at the Para Archery World Championships and Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.
The winners of the division categories were decided by a weighted public, institutional, and press vote, which opened in mid-November and ran for one month. More than 750,000 votes were cast.
Sheetal Devi had a brilliant 2023 that ended with her bagging two gold medals and one silver at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. Earlier this year, she became the world's number one para archer and also won the Para Archery World Championships silver medal.
“I have my eyes on the Paris Paralympics. I am putting all efforts into ensuring that the Indian flag flies high on the podium and I bring back as many medals as possible," Sheetal Devi had underlined her plan for the forthcoming year.
Among other Indians, Aditi Swami and Jyothi Surekha Vennam missed out on any awards, but they can be awarded later on February 3 when the breakthrough performance of the year, coach of the year, and overall athlete of the year will be awarded.
Aditi Swami became the youngest world champion at the age of 17 while Jyothi won three gold medals at the Asian Games creating history.
