Vinit Kumar Jha Utpal
It was a winter morning in the second week of January 2024 at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi. I was sitting in the waiting area for my flight to Jammu as I was returning from the 55th convocation at Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, held on 10th January, 2024 as a faculty member of a prestigious journalism school. Amidst the usual airport rush, my attention was drawn to a striking presence, calm, composed and quietly radiant.
That was my first encounter with Abhilasha Chaudhary, who stood beside Sheetal Devi, the world’s first female para-archer without arms to win a World Championship gold medal. She was honoured with the prestigious Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu on 9th January, 2024 in recognition of her remarkable accomplishments.
As I have found that Abhilasha Chaudhary does not look like a coach, but like a shadow that never leaves. Sheetal, who would go on to stimulate millions with her extraordinary voyage in para-archery, seemed anchored by Abhilasha’s unwavering existence. At the Delhi IGI airport, it wasn’t the medals or accolades that stood out, it was the human connection between the two humans or sportspersons.
Abhilasha’s cheerful face was instantly attractive. There was a natural warmth about her personality that made air passengers look out of curiosity with admiration. Her fitness reflected discipline and her attire reflected elegance with simplicity. Her attentiveness attracted others as every small need of Sheetal’s was anticipated, every movement supported and every pause understood. Watching her, I realized that greatness in sports is rarely an individual story. Behind every athlete who breaks barriers, there is often someone quietly holding the threads together. In Sheetal’s journey, Abhilasha was that invisible strength, the silent architect of resilience.
Years later, that fleeting airport encounter feels even more significant as I witness the continued rise of para-archery in India. Recently, my attention goes to one of the photographs published in local newspapers of Jammu, in which Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha felicitated international para-archer Payal Nag at Lok Bhavan in Jammu for her historic gold medal at the World Archery Para Series 2026 in Bangkok. Among the dignitaries present was Abhilasha Chaudhary, once again standing beside her athlete, not in the spotlight, but never without impact.
In the latest interview with ANI, Abhilasha Chaudhary claimed that her academy has produced two Arjuna Awardees and more than 70 national and international-level sportspersons. The academy of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has established a global identity and its contribution is significant at the national level. Infrastructure for athletics, basketball and other sports has been developed for sportspersons residing on campus. She said that while many individuals and organizations come forward when players win medals, the Shrine Board has consistently worked at the grassroots level. Para-athletes and para-archers from the academy are bringing laurels to the nation. As we must be aware that the chairperson of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is Lt. Governor, Manoj Singh and CEO is Sachin Kumar Vaishya, IAS.
Abhilasha Chaudhary hails from Berauth, a small town in the Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh. She studied at Uttarakhand Open University and Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University (TNPESU). Her Instagram profile describes her as a coach of the Indian archery team and a coach at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. No doubt, she has travelled miles and miles before reaching this position with hard work and dedication.
On social media, Abhilasha Chaudhary wrote, “Immensely proud as a coach, two daughters of the nation making their mark on the world stage. Proud of you, Payal and Sheetal.” In another post, she shared, “Payal Nag became the world’s first limbless archery champion. She defeated her idol Sheetal Devi 139-136 to win gold at the World Para Archery Series in Bangkok, Thailand.” In the same series, Sheetal Devi clinched the silver medal.
Chaudhary’s journey, much like her personality, is understated yet powerful. Whether guiding Sheetal Devi through challenges or supporting Payal Nag on the global stage, Abhilasha embodies what it truly means to be a coach not just training the body, but nurturing the spirit. In a world that often celebrates only visible victories, Abhilasha Chaudhary reminds us of the quiet dedication that fuels them. She is shaping champions, shaping courage, dignity and belief also. The sky is the limit for her.
And sometimes, all it takes is a brief encounter at an airport to witness an extraordinary story unfolding.
(The writer is Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Jammu Campus)
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