Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 20: Bringing laurels to Jammu and Kashmir, the World No 1 Para Archer, Sheetal Devi will receive the Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9, 2024.
The names of the 26 athletes who will receive the Arjuna Awards for exceptional achievement in sports and games in 2023 have been formally announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports today.
LG Manoj Sinha also showed his happiness following the formal announcement, posting on X, “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.”
In an awe-inspiring display of determination and resilience, the 16-year-old, hailing from Loi Dhar village of Kishtwar had achieved remarkable feat in a very short career by clinching several National and International level medals including a silver medal at the prestigious world championship held in the Czech Republic and two gold medals and silver at the recent Asian Para Games. She is now focused on repeating her performance at next year’s Paralympic Games in Paris.
Adding to her expanding list of firsts, prodigious Indian para archer Sheetal Devi also won the Best Youth Athlete of The Year honour at the Asian Awards 2023 in Riyadh.