New Delhi, 09 December 2023: In a momentous event held today, Ms. Sheetal Devi, the World No. 1 para-archer, was welcomed into the Indian Oil family, making her the first para-athlete to join Indian Oil sports fraternity. Mr. Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman, Indian Oil, presented the tenure-based engagement letter to Ms. Sheetal Devi, celebrating her remarkable journey in the world of para-archery.
Padma Shri Dr. Uma Tuli, Founder, Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, Padma Shri & Arjuna Award Winner Ms. Deepa Malik, and functional directors of IndianOil, Mr. V. Satish Kumar, Director (Marketing), Ms. Sukla Mistry, Director (Refineries), Mr. Sujoy Choudhury, Director (P&BD) holding additional charge of Director (R&D and HR) and Mr. N. Senthil Kumar, Director (Pipelines) and IOCians were also present on the occasion.
Welcoming Sheetal to Indian Oil, Mr. Vaidya said, “Indian Oil has a longstanding commitment of supporting the sporting talent in the country and nurturing world class champions. Ms. Sheetal Devi will be a shining star in Indian Oil’s Sporting Galaxy”. Admiring Sheetal’s courage and resilience and her journey as the world’s first armless archer in the world, Mr. Vaidya offered the Company’s steadfast support to her in realising her dreams and win more laurels for the nation.
Expressing her happiness on the occasion, Ms. Sheetal said, “On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I am thankful to Indian Oil for including me in the family and offering me the encouragement to scale new heights”. Sheetal also talked about the challenges she faced, the support of her parents and coaches and her determination to win laurels for the country. “Everything is possible with hard work and perseverance. If I can, everyone can”, she concluded.
Ms. Sheetal Devi’s story is one of unwavering determination and extraordinary achievement. At just 16 years old, she has etched her name in the annals of para sports, securing two gold medals and a silver at the recent Asian Para Games and becoming the world’s top para-archer.
IndianOil, as a socially responsible corporate, has actively promoted sports by recruiting athletes, providing sports scholarships to budding talents, and sponsoring major sporting events. The corporation’s efforts were recognized with the prestigious “Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar” for outstanding contributions to sports through CSR initiatives.
As part of its scholarship scheme, Indian Oil continues to identify and support young talents below the age of 19, ensuring they receive the necessary resources to evolve into future sports stars. Ms. Sheetal Devi’s induction into Indian Oil’s sporting family is a testament to the corporation’s commitment to recognizing and nurturing exceptional talents.
