J&K para-archer Sheetal Devi to be conferred with Arjuna award

Jammu, Dec 20: J&K’s teen sensation and para-archer from Kishtwar district Sheetal Devi is among 26 sports persons who will receive prestigious Arjuna awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games, 2023.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2023 on Wednesday. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9, 2024.

Following the announcement of awards, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha greeted her in his post on ‘X’ (formerly called Twitter) and described it as a proud moment for J&K.

“Proud moment for J&K! Para #Archer Sheetal Devi to be conferred with Arjuna Award 2023 by President. Heartiest congratulations to Sheetal for her remarkable achievements. Wishing you all the best for your future. May you continue to shine & bring more glory to our nation,” LG Sinha wrote on ‘X.’

Last month on November 25, Sheetal had bagged “Best Youth Athlete of the Year” award at the Asian Paralympic Committee’s award ceremony in Riyadh. 16-year-old was the first Indian to win this award.

Sheetal, who is world’s first armless archer, had scored a hat-trick of medals at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games-2022, held this year in October. She had won a gold medal in the archery women's individual compound open event; gold medal in mixed team compound event and a silver in women’s doubles compound event.

With this feat, she had also become the first Indian female to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games.

Her overwhelming feat had won her appreciation from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as well, besides others.

She along with other para-archers from India gave the best ever performance (of Indian squad) at Para Asian Archery Championships-2023 in Bangkok.

Continuing her golden streak, she bagged Gold medal in the open category of compound section at the inaugural Khelo India Para Games last week.

National Sports Awards 2023 are based on the recommendations of the Committee after due scrutiny and are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.

‘Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games’ is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.