New Delhi: India’s best-performing athletes were conferred with the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2023 by President Droupadi Murmu, in a regal ceremony, held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday (January 9). Among the winners were 16-year-old Para archer Sheetal Devi and Para-canoeist Prachi Yadav, who were bestowed with the Arjuna Award in recognition of their excellence in sports, highlighting their extraordinary performance at the national and international competitive events. The Durbar Hall echoed with applause when para archer Sheetal Devi and Para-canoeist Prachi Yadav, showed up to collect their awards.

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Sheetal was born with Phocomelia, a rare congenital deformity in which the limbs are either very underdeveloped or absent. The 16-year-old is the only international para-archery champion without upper limbs.

The President held Sheetal’s award and the scroll as the teenager basked in the glory of her accomplishment. Sheetal’s achievements in Para Archery include:

• Three gold medals and one silver medal in the 4th Para Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in 2023.
• One silver medal in the World Para Archery Championship held in Pilsen, Czech Republic in 2023.

President Droupadi Murmu confers Arjuna Award, 2023 on Ms Sheetal Devi for her achievements in Para Archery. She has won:

● Three gold medals and one silver medal in the 4th Para Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in 2023.
● One silver medal in the World Para Archery… pic.twitter.com/MYrmcwp5wp

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 9, 2024

Congratulating the para-archer on her “well-deserved recognition”, Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and wrote, “Sheetal, you are a role model for the nation and the world; you have made the world acknowledge your passion, zeal, and hard work. May you continue to push boundaries and inspire us to do so. The world has a lot to learn from you!”

Heartfelt congratulations to Sheetal Devi on being bestowed with the Arjuna Award for her extraordinary accomplishments in Para-Archery. 

Sheetal, you are a role model for the nation and the world; you have made the world acknowledge your passion, zeal, and hard work. May you… pic.twitter.com/0kOrh4io0Q

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) January 9, 2024

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In a conversation with NDTV at the launch of Samarth by Hyundai, Sheetal talked about people’s misconceptions about her. With support from her coach Preeti, Sheetal has shattered all the disbeliefs people had in her abilities. She added,

“I have been using my feet for everything since childhood – writing, studying, playing, climbing trees, and now I also do archery with my feet.”

On the other hand, to present the Arjuna Award to Prachi Yadav, a wheelchair-bound para-canoeist, President Murmu walked down the podium.

President Droupadi Murmu confers Arjuna Award, 2023 on Ms Prachi Yadav for her achievements in Para Canoeing. She has won:

● One gold medal and one silver medal in the 4th Para Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in 2023.
● Three gold medals and one silver medal in the… pic.twitter.com/2EMDrKAqoG

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 9, 2024

Minister Anurag Thakur lauded Prachi for her shining performance in every tournament she participated in 2023. He added, “Her (Prachi Yadav) consistency and hunger for excellence are what make her journey so inspiring. Huge applause to you on such an incredible journey so far and on being honoured with the well-deserved Arjuna Award in Para-Canoeing.”

What an incredible year it was for Prachi Yadav, shining in every tournament in which she participated. Her consistency and hunger for excellence are what make her journey so inspiring.

Huge applause to you on such an incredible journey so far and on being honoured with the… pic.twitter.com/NeMvLwT8wM

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) January 9, 2024

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Prachi has won:

• One gold medal and one silver medal in the 4th Para Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in 2023.
• Three gold medals and one silver medal in the Asian Para Canoe Championship held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in 2023.
• One bronze medal in the ICF Para Canoe World Cup held in Poznan, Poland in 2022.

Prachi Yadav from Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior is paralysed waist down. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Prachi shared a message for people with disabilities, and said,

“If you consider yourselves disabled, if it is in your mind that you are disabled, you will be disabled. But if you have made up your mind to do something and are determined then nobody can stop you.”

Both Sheetal (Para-Archer) and Prachi (Para-Canoe player) are among the six athletes supported by Hyundai as part of the initiative Samarth.

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