Sheetal Devi Named World Archery Para Archer of the Year 2025
Why in the news
World Archery named 19-year-old Sheetal Devi of Jammu and Kashmir as its Para Archer of the Year for 2025. She is India’s armless archer and was recognised after a title-winning season.
Key facts
- Award: World Archery Para Archer of the Year 2025.
- Gold: women’s compound individual at the World Para Archery Championships, Gwangju, South Korea, in September 2025; she became the first armless woman world champion.
- Also at Gwangju: silver in the women’s team event and bronze in the mixed team.
- Paris 2024: Paralympic bronze in the mixed team compound event with Rakesh Kumar.
| 2025 World Archery award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Para Archer of the Year | Sheetal Devi (India) |
| Archer of the Year | Emircan Haney (Turkiye) |
| Young Archer of the Year | Baptiste Addis (France) |
| Team of the Year | Korea men’s recurve team |
About the person
Sheetal Devi was born on 10 January 2007 and comes from Loidhar in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir. At Gwangju she beat defending champion Oznur Cure 146-143 in the final.
Exam angle
- Para Archer of the Year 2025: Sheetal Devi; Archer of the Year: Emircan Haney.
- Her discipline is compound archery.
- Gwangju hosted the 2025 World Para Archery Championships.