Sheetal Devi is one of the rising stars of World Archery’s 2023 World Para Championships in Pilsen.
The 16-year-old, who holds the bow with her foot in the style of the famous armless archer Matt Stutzman, shot just eight points less than her Indian teammate and world record holder Sarita to be seeded fourth after the compound qualifying round women on the first day of the World Championship.
Together, the pair set a new doubles world record, and an impressive first day in their World Championship debut. doubles world record – and an impressive first day at her World Championships debut.
Devi will compete in the women’s compound open final on July 22.
Sheetal Devi is writing history. 🇮🇳🏹
She is the first female armless archer to make a world final. #WorldArchery #ParaArchery pic.twitter.com/3mLA1flLBP— World Archery (@worldarchery) July 21, 2023
Shooting at a new level
Devi is the only armless archer competing in this championship. She only started shooting 11 months ago, but this undeniably talented athlete is already achieving at a level some would only dream of.
“I’m very excited. It’s a great competition,” said Devi, who aims to represent her country at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. “I know it’s a qualification tournament. And I feel very good here.”
Devi took up Para archery less than a year ago, and she is making her World Championships debut in Pilsen. @Antoni Cichy/World Archery
Devi lives with her family in the mountains of India. She was born without arms, but her life is that of a normal teenager. She goes to school and now trains.
“I never thought I could get into archery,” he said.
A phone call to coach Kuldeep Kumar changed everything.
“I told her to come to the academy and watch other people shoot,” said the coach, adding that the girl has progressed quickly since she started playing the sport.
“I took her to the national championship. She was excited and saw many Para archers with different disabilities. She quickly became really interested in the sport.”
Learning from the best
Devi is making her debut at the World Archery World Para Championships, but it is not her first international event. She has fond memories of the Czech Republic: she took silver in the European Para Archery Cup held in the country, in Nove Mesto, in May.
Since then, he has competed against able-bodied under-18s and won medals in his country.
Devi is one of three armless archers competing in Pilsen. And she has caught the attention of Stutzman, current Para Archery world champion and pioneer of the technique.
“It’s hard to believe! Now there are probably six archers without arms! It’s unbelievable,” he said. “You only really see them at the big events, so this is our chance to help them in any way we can.”
…and fire! 🏹 🎯
Matt Stutzman hits the target. @ArmlessArcher @worldarchery #SportWeek pic.twitter.com/e835om9jTQ
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) May 18, 2021
Stutzman shot three arrows from Devi’s bow, and that was enough to provide his valuable insight.
“You might tell your trainer that your peep needs to be bigger because the peep and sight sizes are wrong,” he said. “He wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t shot his bow.”
Stutzman is a three-time Paralympian and won the silver medal in the men’s open individual compound at London 2012. And he is probably the only one who could help Devi in such a way.
A teacher and a mentor
Devi watched the Para archery legend shoot with his equipment.
“The first arrow went into the eight, the second into the nine. Before the third shot, he said, ‘now I will shoot a 10.’ And he shot a 10,” said coach Kuldeep. “She was looking very excited and she was very happy.”
It was a priceless lesson with a teacher, perhaps a mentor.
Stutzman shot using Devi’s equipment and gave her suggestions. @Antoni Cichy/World Archery
“Matt was the first armless archer, and it was the first time I had met him,” Devi said. “She was very excited.”
He soon deployed his new learnings to devastating effect. Her qualifying round of 689 points in 72 arrows and 50 meters was world class for an archer with arms, let alone one without.
(Stutzman shot four points less, at 685).
“I want him to be successful,” Stutzman said. “She really wants to win. It’s good that she came because we can help her.”
Just last year in Dubai, there were several armless archers on the shooting line at the World Para Archery Championships. Now it’s normal. And, despite the inherent challenge, they are delivering.
#USOPMoments: On the archery range at @London2012Matt Stutzman put together a dramatic run to win silver in the individual compound open! 🏹🥈🇺🇸
Explore more great @TeamUSA moments from 2012: https://t.co/Z8hBvayfr0
📷: USOPC/Joe Kusumoto@USAArchery @ArmlessArcher pic.twitter.com/28QrMIIaXn
— U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum (@USOPMuseum) June 16, 2020
“I can retire now and be fine with everything. I’ve done very well, but the fact that there are other archers without arms is much more important. It builds archery,” Stutzman said.
He assures that Paris will be his last Paralympic campaign.
“It shows that anyone can use a bow. You don’t need arms to do that,” Stutzman said.
“Bows just want to be shot.”
2023-07-21 07:00:00
#Matt #Stutzman #helps #Indias #impressive #armless #goalkeeper
