Latest news with #SheetalDevi
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Idolised Jasprit Bumrah, Lost Arms In Electric Shock: Meet India's 6-Year-Old Archery Sensation
Less than a year after para-archer Sheetal Devi shot to fame with her performances at the Paris Paralympics 2024, another rising para-archer has caught the eye. 6-year-old Ayush Kumar, hailing from Faridabad in the Indian state of Haryana, lost both of his arms in a horrifying accident with an electrical wire just over a year ago. The accident also took with it his dreams of becoming like star India cricketer Jasprit Bumrah. However, Ayush has now emerged as a skilled para-archer, even at his tender age, with dreams of making it to the top. "When I saw him for the first time, I decided to make him an archer. I felt that he would be able to do it. After seeing him, I called him for talent scouting. He came to us in the summer camp and is training," said Kuldeep Vedwan, Ayush's archery coach, speaking to NDTV. "I am hopeful that when he will be 12 years old, he will be in the Indian team," Vedwan further stated. Watch: Video report on Ayush by NDTV : @tabishh_husain | @Vimalsports — NDTV India (@ndtvindia) July 7, 2025 The success of 18-year-old para-archer Sheetal Devi has given renewed hope to budding para-archers. Sheetal, who is also armless, wowed the world with her stunning ability, as she won gold medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships, and eventually a bronze at the mixed team compound event at Paralympics 2024. Ayush suffered his accident nearly a year ago, on July 12, 2024, bringing horror not only to him, but also to his mother. However, Arjun's talent in para-archery has also given hope to his family. "He had told me that he was going to play at his aunt's place, but I don't know what happened there. Then, the accident happened to him. When he came in contact with the electrical wire, there was a loud sound. Then we came to know that an accident had happened to him," Ayush's mother recollected. Ayush trains under Kuldeep Vedwan at Dhanoura Tikri village in Baghpat, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. There, the 6-year-old has also received guidance from para-archer Payal Nag, who beat Sheetal at the 6th National Para Archery Championship in Jaipur. "We talked a lot, I really liked his courage, he is doing all this in such a short time and has a desire to go much further. I have full hope that he will definitely go ahead," Nag said. A fan of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as well, Arjun's sporting dreams are only getting bigger in the world of archery.
News18
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- News18
Paralympian Sheetal Devi Proves Nothing Is Impossible, Even Steering With Her Feet
Taking to Instagram, Sheetal Devi shared a video, where she can be seen driving a car through the scenic roads of Jammu & Kashmir using her feet. After winning the bronze medal at the Paris Paralympic 2024, Indian athlete Sheetal Devi is once again making headlines, but this time not for her sporting achievements, but for confidently taking the driver's seat. Taking to Instagram, Sheetal Devi shared a video, where she can be seen driving a car through the scenic roads of Jammu & Kashmir using her feet. The vehicle she is driving is a specially modified Mahindra Scorpio N, gifted to her by Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra after she turned 18. Sharing the clip, Sheetal wrote: 'Took on the driver's seat for a while, loving every moment of it." Along with it, she left her followers with a powerful message: 'Never say NEVER." Within just a few hours, the video went viral, garnering millions of views and heartwarming reactions from fans and followers alike. The comments section was quickly filled with messages of admiration and pride. One user wrote, 'Aap toh desh ki saari ladkiyon ke liye ek inspiration ho, salute." Another added, 'Passed in one more challenge." advetisement Who is Sheetal Devi? Sheetal Devi was born with phocomelia, a rare congenital condition that left her without arms. Yet, what many would see as a limitation became her driving force. From an early age, she pursued sports and proved that determination knows no physical boundaries. During her initial para-archery training, coaches attempted to help her use prosthetics. But when that didn't work, they took a different path, one that changed her life. Inspired by Matt Stutzman, the American archer born without arms who won silver at the London 2012 Paralympics using his legs, Sheetal embraced alternative shooting techniques. She tried every method possible, from shooting with her legs and her jaw to adapting and experimenting with different techniques and perfecting her craft with relentless dedication. That dedication bore fruit. In 2023, she became the world's number one para archer in the open category. She went on to win two golds and one silver at the Asian Para Games, followed by a silver medal at the World Archery Para Championships. Her defining moment came during the Paris Paralympics 2024, where she not only secured a bronze medal but also broke the previous world record of 698 points, scoring 703 out of 720. This made her one of just two athletes in history to win a Paralympic medal without arms. Mahindra's Tribute to India's Paralympians Sheetal Devi is not the only Paralympian to be recognised by Mahindra & Mahindra. The auto giant has previously honoured several other athletes who have brought glory to India on the global stage. Among them is Avani Lekhara, who bagged gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle and bronze in the 50m Air Rifle events at the Paralympic Games. Then there's Sumit Antil, who clinched gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The company also gifted a specially customised XUV700 to Deepa Malik, a Paralympian and a prominent figure in Indian para-sports. With each gesture, Mahindra continues to reinforce its commitment to celebrating grit, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of India's para-athletes. First Published:
India Today
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Paralympian Sheetal Devi starts driving using her feet, stunning clip goes viral
Sheetal Devi drives a car with just her feet. (Image: Screengrab - Instagram/@sheetal_archery) Sheetal Devi was seen driving a car with just her feet She is the youngest para-athlete to win a medal at the Paralympics She won a bronze at the Paris Paralympics in the compound mixed-doubles event India's Paralympic star, Sheetal Devi, continues to defy the odds and push the limits. The athlete was seen driving a car using just her feet. In the video clip shared on her Instagram handle, the star para-athlete was seen on multiple instances confidently driving the vehicle. She is seen using her right foot to steer the vehicle while the left foot is used to accelerate/brake. "Took on the driver's seat for a while, loving every moment of it.?? Never say NEVER," the video was captioned as saying. Coincidentally, the vehicle she seems to be driving is a Mahindra. It should be noted that she had been gifted a Thar by Anand Mahindra himself after winning multiple Gold medals for India at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. "I will never, EVER again complain about petty problems in my life. Sheeta Devi, you are a teacher to us all. Please pick any car from our range & we will award it to you & customise it for your use," Anand Mahindra had tweeted. The star athlete grabbed the spotlight with her outstanding performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Competing in the mixed compound archery team event alongside Rakesh Kumar, the duo clinched a bronze medal for India. She also came agonisingly close to winning gold in the individual event, but was narrowly defeated by Chile's Marina Zuniga. Despite the result, the Indian para-athlete delivered a valiant performance that made the entire nation proud. At just 17 years old, she became the youngest Indian Paralympian to win a medal, earning nationwide acclaim and even the admiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who personally congratulated her on her achievement. Later, when the Prime Minister invited the para-athletes to his residence in New Delhi, she gifted him a signed jersey as a token of gratitude. Born in 2007 with phocomelia â€' a rare congenital disorder that led to the underdevelopment of her arms â€' she never let her condition define her. Determined to pursue her passion, she trained alongside able-bodied archers during her academy days, mastering an unorthodox technique in which she uses the right side of her body to shoot arrows with remarkable precision. India's Paralympic star, Sheetal Devi, continues to defy the odds and push the limits. The athlete was seen driving a car using just her feet. In the video clip shared on her Instagram handle, the star para-athlete was seen on multiple instances confidently driving the vehicle. She is seen using her right foot to steer the vehicle while the left foot is used to accelerate/brake. "Took on the driver's seat for a while, loving every moment of it.?? Never say NEVER," the video was captioned as saying. Coincidentally, the vehicle she seems to be driving is a Mahindra. It should be noted that she had been gifted a Thar by Anand Mahindra himself after winning multiple Gold medals for India at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. "I will never, EVER again complain about petty problems in my life. Sheeta Devi, you are a teacher to us all. Please pick any car from our range & we will award it to you & customise it for your use," Anand Mahindra had tweeted. The star athlete grabbed the spotlight with her outstanding performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Competing in the mixed compound archery team event alongside Rakesh Kumar, the duo clinched a bronze medal for India. She also came agonisingly close to winning gold in the individual event, but was narrowly defeated by Chile's Marina Zuniga. Despite the result, the Indian para-athlete delivered a valiant performance that made the entire nation proud. At just 17 years old, she became the youngest Indian Paralympian to win a medal, earning nationwide acclaim and even the admiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who personally congratulated her on her achievement. Later, when the Prime Minister invited the para-athletes to his residence in New Delhi, she gifted him a signed jersey as a token of gratitude. Born in 2007 with phocomelia â€' a rare congenital disorder that led to the underdevelopment of her arms â€' she never let her condition define her. Determined to pursue her passion, she trained alongside able-bodied archers during her academy days, mastering an unorthodox technique in which she uses the right side of her body to shoot arrows with remarkable precision. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Never say never': Indian Paralympic star Sheetal Devi drives car with feet; video goes viral
Sheetal Devi (Agency Photo/Screengrab) Indian Paralympic star Sheetal Devi once again captured hearts online after sharing a video of herself confidently driving a car using her feet. In the clip posted to Instagram, she sits behind the wheel and manoeuvres with impressive control. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Her caption read: 'Took on the driver's seat for a while, loving every moment of it. Never say NEVER.' The video quickly went viral, resonating deeply with fans and further cementing Sheetal's reputation as a symbol of grit and limitless possibility. Watch: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sheetal Devi (@sheetal_archery) Born with phocomelia, a rare congenital condition that left her without arms, Sheetal has never allowed her disability to define her limits. Instead, she has carved out an inspiring path in para-archery—one that has seen her rise to international prominence. Using her right foot, shoulder, and jaw to shoot, Sheetal has become a global inspiration by mastering an entirely new way of competing in a sport typically reliant on arm strength. At just 18 years old, she made history by scoring a record-breaking 703 out of 720 at the Paris Paralympics, surpassing the previous benchmark of 698 and earning a bronze medal. In doing so, she became only the second armless athlete ever to win a Paralympic medal. 'Jay Shah Deserves Credit for How He Ran BCCI' | Arun Dhumal on BCCI's Commitment & Leadership Hailing from a small village in Jammu, Sheetal's journey from climbing trees as a child to standing on the Paralympic podium has been fuelled by her determination and resilience. Her latest act, driving a car with her feet, reinforces her message that no challenge is insurmountable. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Watch: Incredible clip of Paralympic medallist Sheetal Devi driving using her feet
Indian Paralympic player Sheetal Devi was seen driving a car using her feet in a social media clip released on her Instagram. 'Took on the driver's seat for a while, loving every moment of it. Never say NEVER,' she captioned it. Devi was born with Phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder that causes underdeveloped limbs. During the Paris Paralympics, she shot 703 points out of a possible 720, leaving behind the previous world record score of 698. She uses her right foot, right shoulder, and jaw to release the arrow and gets the upper body strength from a penchant for climbing trees as a kid. Devi is only one of two armless athletes to win a bronze medal at the Paralympics. The story of this 18-year-old archer from Jammu, however, is not just about beating the odds and winning medals. She is also inspiring others in similar or more challenging circumstances to take up the bow and be as good as her. A post shared by Sheetal Devi (@sheetal_archery) National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) notes in a report that when phocomelia is identified in a child, physicians should complete a thorough search for other associated abnormalities, as other defects are present in approximately half of the patients presenting with this limb anomaly. 'Particularly, practitioners should examine the musculoskeletal system, including the vertebrae, the intestines, and the heart, as dysfunction in these organ systems appears most frequently in conjunction with phocomelia,' it reads. NCBI notes that prosthetics may be of some use, 'but many without such tools can function quite well'. 'Families of children who have severely hypoplastic extremities should work with therapists to help understand how to meet the unique needs of their children. And finally, caring for a disabled child can be traumatic for some people. Therefore, physicians should have a low threshold to recommend mental counselling services to assist in coping mechanisms that both the parents and the child may need,' the report reads.
