Archery has been part of the Paralympics since its debut in 1960. Though nations like the USA, South Korea, and Great Britain have dominated the sport, India has earned just one bronze medal across 17 editions. At this year’s event, over 4,400 athletes will compete in 22 different sports.

Paralympic archers are categorized based on their level of impairment. Athletes in the W1 category, for example, use wheelchairs and experience impairment in at least three limbs. In the open category—where Sheetal competes—athletes may have impairments on one side of the body or either upper or lower limbs. Depending on the classification, athletes may shoot from a standing position, a stool, or a wheelchair using either recurve or compound bows.

Currently, Sheetal ranks number one globally in the women’s compound open category. Her silver medal at the 2023 Para-Archery World Championships secured her spot in Paris, where she will face formidable competitors like world number three Jane Karla Gogel and reigning world champion Oznur Cure.

Her journey to archery wasn’t typical. Born in a small farming village, Sheetal had never seen a bow and arrow until age 15. Everything changed in 2022 when she visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board sports complex in Katra, 200 km from home. There, she met her coaches Abhilasha Chaudhary and Kuldeep Vedwan, who saw incredible potential in her.

With no arms, learning to shoot an arrow was a monumental challenge. But Sheetal had strength in her legs and upper body from years of adapting—writing with her feet, climbing trees, and more. While the idea initially felt impossible and left her physically exhausted, she pushed through.

One of her inspirations was American archer Matt Stutzman, who also shoots using his feet. Unlike Stutzman, though, Sheetal didn’t have access to advanced equipment. Her coach Vedwan stepped in, crafting a customized bow from locally available materials. Her setup includes an upper-body strap made from bag-belt material and a release aid she holds in her mouth.

Developing a sustainable shooting technique meant going beyond just using her legs—it involved harnessing her back muscles and refining her posture. The training was gradual: they started with a simple rubber band, targeting objects just five meters away. As her confidence and skills grew, she transitioned to a real bow and eventually started hitting 50-meter targets—the standard distance for her event.

Her growth was astonishing. Within two years, she went from novice to champion, hitting six consecutive 10s—the highest possible score—in the final of the women’s individual compound event at the 2023 Asian Para Games to claim gold.

Her drive is relentless. “Even when I shoot a nine, I immediately think about how I can make the next one a 10,” she says.

But that success has come with sacrifices. Since moving to Katra to train two years ago, Sheetal hasn’t returned home—not once. She plans to go back only after the Paralympics, hopefully with a medal around her neck.

For Sheetal, archery is not just about competition—it’s a symbol of perseverance. “I believe there are no limits. It’s all about how much you want something and how hard you’re willing to work,” she says. “If I can do it, anyone can.”