The world was left in awe when 17-year-old Sheetal Devi made history at the Paris Paralympics as the first woman without arms to compete in the competition. Sheetal, who often cites the USA’s Matt Stutzman as her inspiration for breaking barriers in the sport as the first arm-less archer, now has a successor.
India is set to showcase another remarkable talent to the world. Meet Payal Nag, hailing from the remote Balangir district of Odisha. As a child, Payal tragically lost all four of her limbs in an electrocution accident. However, her determination to rise above her challenges led her to Maata Vaishno Devi Shrine Archery Academy, a renowned training centre run by coaches Kuldeep Vedwan and Abhilasha Chaudhary, who also mentored Sheetal all the way to the podium in Paris. The district commissioner referred Payal to the academy 1.5 years ago, and she has been training relentlessly ever since.
In a stunning display of skill and resilience at the 6th National Para Archery Championship in Jaipur, Payal made history by winning a gold medal. She is the only archer in the world who competes without any limbs.
She has developed an innovative technique to shoot — setting the arrow with her mouth, drawing her body back, and using a slight jerk of her shoulder to release it.
In the championship, Payal not only earned gold, but also pushed her idol, Sheetal, to the silver-medal spot in the compound event, announcing her arrival as a force to be reckoned with in para archery.
Under the expert guidance of coaches Vedwan and Abhilasha, Payal has the potential to become one of the most prominent figures in Indian para-archery, blazing a trail as the first athlete to compete without all four limbs.
Her story is one of extraordinary perseverance, breaking barriers and redefining the limits of human potential. Payal’s inspiring journey could very well mark the beginning of a new era in para-sports, making India even more proud on the global stage.