Gold medalist at the Asian Para Games, Sheetal Devi, stated that she is presently training for the next Para Olympics in Paris and hoping to bring home medals for India. In an interview with ANI, the Indian paraarcher expressed her happiness at being well-known. She also mentioned how much her instructors and family had helped her succeed.
“I am feeling happy that people know me now. Earlier I knew nothing about sports… Today I am standing here because of my coaches at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. My coaches and family members have supported me a lot. I am preparing myself for the upcoming Para Olympics so that I can win medals there,” Sheetal said.
At the same time, Sheetal’s coach at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Abhilasha Chaudhary, disclosed that the child archer trains and competes against archers with able bodies. “She worked hard to win medals. Sheetal practices with able-body archers and she not only trains with them but also competes against them,” Abhilasha told ANI.
Sheetal took home three medals from the Asian Para Games: a silver in the women’s team category, a gold medal in the mixed team category, and a gold medal in the women’s singles compound open event. With a brilliant display, Sheetal beat Singapore’s Alim Nur Syahidah in the women’s singles competition.
Alim Nur led the match in points in the first three sets thanks to her accuracy, but it was a closely contested match. After the first three sets ended, she had a three-point advantage going into the final two sets.
After Sheetal scored two consecutive goals to seal the victory, Alim Nur missed a few opportunities to tie the score. With an overall score of 144-142, she eventually won.
Para archer Sheetal Devi adds, “I am gearing up for the upcoming Para Olympics.”
