New Delhi [India], March 22 (ANI): Sheetal Devi competing against Payal Nag In the finals of the mixed gender open category, this is a bucket list event destined to be checked off at the Play India Para Games 2025 .
Sheetal representing Jammu and Kashmir and Payal hailing from Odisha will face off in the gold medal final this Sunday at the JLN Stadium located in the nation's capital.
Sheetal is the premier and sole female para-archer without upper limbs to claim a championship title, while Payal stands as India's inaugural competitor at this level without all four limbs.
Sheetal and Payal emerged victorious with scores of 140 and 139 respectively in their individual semifinal matches held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday.
Apart from the intense competitive drive evident on the playing field, Sheetal and Payal enjoy a friendly rapport and frequently swap information with each other.
Drawing motivation from the 17-year-old Payal, Sheetal mentioned in a statement released by SAI Media, “Payal is incredibly kind-hearted. Despite having taken up archery for only one and a half years, she performs exceptionally well, which teaches me many things. While I lack arm function, she lacks both arms and legs. We both made it to the finals, so competing with her would be truly remarkable.”
Anticipating a bright future for both her countrymate and current rival, Sheetal remarked, “The first time I witnessed Payal release an arrow, I marveled at her ability. However, after learning about the specially crafted prosthetic that enabled this feat, I felt confident that she has immense potential. Moving ahead, with relentless effort, she could secure a medal for India.”
Sheetal secured a bronze medal in the mixed team compound event at the 2024 Paralympics, making her the youngest Indian Paralympic medallist ever. Born with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder characterized by the lack of arms, she has achieved this remarkable feat despite these challenges.
At the tender age of five, Payal suffered a devastating loss when she lost all four of her limbs due to an electrocution incident. Later, she underwent training at the prestigious Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Archery Academy located in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, where she was mentored by Kuldeep Vedwan. It was Kuldeep who noticed her remarkable talent after coming across a widely shared tweet featuring her creating a portrait with just her mouth at an orphanage in Bolangir, Odisha. (ANI)
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