Anand Mahindra's promise to Sheetal Devi that remains unmet even after her Paris Paralympics medal glory

NEW DELHI: Sheetal Devi, a 17-year-old archer, stunned the crowd at the Paris Paralympics 2024 with her exceptional talent and unwavering determination. The young Paralympian, who was born without arms, made a remarkable first appearance at the prestigious Paralympics event.

Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi, the Indian archery duo, secured the bronze medal in the Mixed Team Compound event at the ongoing Paris Paralympics. They triumphed over the Italian pair of Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonnacina with a score of 156-155 in the bronze medal match on Monday.

However, Sheetal experienced a setback in the women's individual compound open archery event. Despite her remarkable performance in the qualification round, where she broke the previous world record by scoring 703 points out of a possible 720 and securing a second-place finish, she was narrowly defeated by Chile's Zuniga Mariana with a score of 137-138.

Sheetal, who was born in 2007 with phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder that resulted in her arms not fully forming, was considered one of India's top medal hopefuls.

She had previously won three medals at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year, including two gold medals in individual and mixed team compound competition and a silver in doubles compound competition.

Her performance left spectators in awe as she demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level of the sport. Devi's participation in the Games served as an inspiration to many, showcasing the power of perseverance and the human spirit to overcome challenges.

Among those who were inspired is Indian businessman Anand Mahindra, who considers Sheetal Devi a teacher to all of us and offered her any car from their range, customised for her use.


Anand Mahindra offered her the car in 2023 when she was 16 years old. Sheetal Devi, who was underage to drive at that time, had politely declined the offer, stating that she would take the car once she turns 18.

Anand Mahindra reminded her about her offer after her Paris Paralympics glory, he wrote on his X handle, "Extraordinary courage, commitment & a never-give-up spirit are not linked to medals… #SheetalDevi, you are a beacon of inspiration for the country—and the entire world. Almost a year ago, as a salute to your indomitable spirit, I had requested you to accept any car from our range and we would customise it to enable your navigation. You rightly said you would take up the offer when you turned 18, which you will next year. I look forward to fulfilling that promise to you… And, of course, no one else could be my #MondayMotivation"


The young athlete's journey to the Paris Paralympics was a testament to her dedication and hard work. Despite the obstacles she faced, Sheetal Devi remained focused on her goals and honed her skills to excel in archery.