Sheetal Devi In Fit India Champions Podcast: ‘Always Wanted To Be A Gold-Winning Archer, Olympics Next Target’

A flagship programme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Fit India Mission is an endeavour to spread the virtues of physical and mental wellness. The Fit India Champions podcast series is aimed at spreading the good word through conversations with athletes and health influencers who are acting as catalysts for change. The 10-episode podcast series is in partnership with GOQii, a major stakeholder in the fitness sector that proactively manages health through its digital and multimedia technology.

Sheetal’s glorious journey is a story of how doubts transformed into triumph and how society never treated her as a ‘special’ child. She was born in 2007 with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder leading to underdeveloped limbs.

ALSO READ: Sheetal Devi Becomes World Number 1 Para Archer

“My friends and teachers always stood by me but never in my wildest dreams did I think I will become an archer. When I saw people were using their hands (to shoot an arrow), I thought it was impossible to do that with my feet. But then I wanted to challenge myself.

“I didn’t want to become just another archer. I dreamt of doing something special… win an individual gold medal and now my aim is to win one at the Olympics,” Sheetal said in her conversation with the podcast host, Ekta Vishnoi, the Mission Director of Fit India and the Deputy Director General, Sports Authority of India.

Born in a village in Jammu and Kashmir, Sheetal Devi, who took the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou by storm with two gold medals on debut in compound archery, received the Arjuna Award from the President of India Shrimati Draupadi Murmu on January 9 this year.

Spotted by Army coaches during an event in the Kistwar district, Sheetal’s relentless quest for excellence has made her an outstanding athlete.

“I have not gone home ever since I came to archery and won’t do so till I finish Paris Olympics, said Sheetal, who added that “focus and the ability to repeat a good performance are key to success in archery.

“I train for six-seven hours every day, starting my day with stretching the bow and then start playing matches with my brother and sister. My inner mantra is ‘koshish karne walon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti’ and this helps me to win the matches,” revealed Sheetal.

ALSO READ: Who Is Sheetal Devi, Asian Para Games 2023 Archery Gold Medalist

The episodes, to be released every second and fourth Saturday, will feature a diverse range of athletes and fitness influencers like Olympic and world javelin champion Neeraj Chopra, Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist Sumit Antil, Commonwealth Games 2022 gold medallist boxer Nitu Ghanghas et al.

The Fit India Movement was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The movement has since gained immense popularity across India, with a variety of initiatives and programs being rolled out to promote physical activity and healthy habits.