Paralympics medallist Sheetal Devi sets target for teen rival Payal Nag, who lost limbs at age of 5

Hailing from Balangir, a town in Odisha, Payal lost all four limbs in an electrocution incident at the age of five. Shifted to an orphanage as a young child, she did not know anything about para-sports, or even what a bow and arrow looked like — until a cry for help on social media caught the attention of Sheetal’s coach, Kuldeep Vedwan.

“I had no idea what archery was when I was in Balangir. Kuldeep sir spoke to me on video call for the first time and then showed me videos of Sheetal didi. When I saw those, I thought I could also do something like this. Kuldeep sir gave me further motivation and said that you can also participate in the Paralympics,” Payal said.

Sheetal was born with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder, resulting in the absence of arms. Vedwan developed a technique for her to take up archery; she picks the bow using her legs and then uses her mouth to fix the latch attached to her shoulder to aim and shoot.

At the same academy, Payal was taught the basics of the sport using the same technique but with prosthetic legs. “I saw Sheetal didi picking the bow with both her legs and thought how would I do it as I don’t have legs. But then the prosthetic legs came in and I practised on them to pick the bow,” Payal said.

Payal was an instant success on the national circuit. In her first-ever tournament, the Para-Archery National Championships in Jaipur earlier this year, she beat Sheetal to win gold. On Sunday, it was Sheetal’s turn to come out on top. “Payal played very well and I am not surprised that she has come so far in just two years,” Sheetal said.

Kuldeep is bullish about Payal’s chances at the international level. “The world has only seen armless archers but now it is time for everyone to witness an archer without any limbs. We want to go ahead and compete in international tournaments as I think Payal is ready for that level,” he said, speaking ahead of the final.

Asked how it feels to inspire others to take up the sport , Sheetal said, “It feels good. I am glad Payal took up the sport. When I saw her shoot first, I was amazed. I am confident that she will do well at the international level and eventually more people will pick up the sport.”

The increasing levels of attention ever since she won the Paralympic medal does not seem to have added to the pressure. “I don’t consider myself a celebrity. There is no pressure when I play in India but playing outside is different,” she said. “I am an athlete. And the people who are saluting me today, they are saluting me because of my game. And I feel good that I have come this far because of my game.”