Danielle Brown is believed to be the first Para-lympian archer to be selected to compete in the able-bodied Commonwealth Games.

The Lothersdale bow-woman has been named in a 12-strong England team for the Games in Delhi on October 3-14.

Also selected after a two-day selection shoot at the Meriden Archery Club near Coventry is 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Alison Williamson.

Brown, the 2008 Paralympic open individual compound gold medallist in Beijing, finished second in the women’s compound match behind Nicky Hunt.

After taking up archery aged 15, Brown’s commitment to the sport saw her defer her law degree so that she could concentrate on training in the lead up to Beijing.

In addition to her Paralympic medal, she has won gold in the compound at the last two International Paralympic Committee World Championships for archers with a disability.

Brown, who was delighted with her performance, said: “I am really happy. I did not think that I would even make it as far as this weekend’s qualifying event, so to be selected for the Commonwealth Games team is fantastic.”

With Brown finding out last Friday that she had graduated with a first in law from Leicester University, it has been quite a week.

It proved that Brown was right to struggle to juggle her twin passions – though archery almost paid a heavy price.

Brown said: “A few weeks ago I was 100 per cent certain I wasn’t going to turn up for the Commonwealth Games trials.

“My studying had come second for too long and I didn’t think I had much of a chance anyway. I was at training camp in Arizona and I didn’t see the point in flying back, getting jet-lagged and probably finishing last.

“But my boyfriend persuaded me to have a go. He told me it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I scored two personal bests and qualified second behind Nicky Hunt. It is amazing to think I will be going to Delhi.”

However, Brown – who suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which affects her ability to stand and means she needs to shoot propped up on a stool – does not accept that her achievement is particularly historic.

She said: “I’ve never really viewed it as much of a difference. I don’t factor in my disability when I’m in with the able-bodied guys. It’s much the same really. It’s just fantastic to be part of this calibre of competition.”

Brown took up the sport at the age of 15 after her disability forced her to seek out other ways to secure a top-level sporting future.

Besides her Beijing success, she also won two gold medals on her debut World Championship appearance in Korea.

She said: “I quickly improved after starting the sport and I deferred my law degree to concentrate on being successful. It seems to have paid off now and I will be training full-time in the run-up to Delhi.”