The Punjab Pulse Bureau
Harvinder Singh, a paralympic archer from Haryana, has etched his name in Indian history by becoming the first Indian archer to win a gold medal in the men’s recurve event at the Paralympics. His victory in Paris not only cements his status as a trailblazer but also marksed third archery medal of the Games.
Harvinder Singh hails from the remote village of Kaithal in Haryana, has emerged as a shining star in the world of archery despite facing significant challenges throughout his life. Born into a middle-class farming family, Harvinder’s journey to becoming a celebrated Paralympic archer is nothing short of inspiring.
This renowned para archer has a disability that affects his legs, which resulted from a medical mishap when he was just one and a half years old. After contracting dengue fever, he was administered an injection by a local doctor that severely impacted his mobility, leaving him unable to move his legs properly.
Despite this challenge, Singh has excelled in archery, becoming a prominent para-athlete and winning multiple medals, including India’s first Paralympic medal in archery at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
His introduction to archery came in 2010 at Punjabi University, where he witnessed a group of archers training. This initial exposure sparked a deep interest in the sport. Two years later, while pursuing a doctorate in economics, he saw athletes competing in archery at the London Paralympics, which solidified his desire to pursue archery professionally.
The Archery Journey
The archery journey of Singh has been wonderful and strenuous, as he has faced many challenges and obstacles along the way. The training faced an obstacle during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his father played a crucial role by converting their field into an archery range, enabling Harvinder to continue his practice. This period of adversity only fueled his determination further.
In the 2018 Asian Para Games, Singh clinched gold for India in the men’s individual recurve event, showcasing his determination and talent on the international stage. In addition, he has won a bronze medal in the individual category at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Similarly, in the 2022 Asian Para Games, which took place in 2023, he contributed to the Indian team’s success by winning another bronze medal.
More recently, in June 2024, Singh earned a bronze medal at a Para Archery World Ranking event in the Czech Republic. Earlier, in April 2024, he also claimed a bronze medal at the World Archery Oceania 2024 Para Grand Prix in Australia.
Harvinder Singh at Paralympics 2024
On 29th August, Singh qualified for the ranking round by securing the 4th spot with a score of 637 points. He performed well and moved on to the knockout stages, where he showed great skill and determination. In the semi-finals, he made an amazing comeback to beat Iran’s Mohammad Reza Arab Ameri. This win took him to the final, where he faced Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek.
In the final match, Singh played brilliantly and won all three sets with a score of 6-0, earning the gold medal in the men’s recurve individual event. He made history as the first Indian para archer to win multiple Paralympic medals.
Singh’s remarkable achievements have not only brought pride to India but have also inspired countless individuals to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams relentlessly. This victory was deeply emotional for Harvinder, as it came just 20 days after the passing of his mother. He dedicated the medal to her memory, saying, “I lost my mother just 20 days before the competition, so I felt a lot of pressure, mentally. I have lost many things in my life, even my mother, so I had to take a medal from there and luckily I won. All that is because of my hard work and the blessings of my mother.”
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