In a remarkable display of skill and precision, Harvinder Singh etched his name in the annals of Indian sports history by securing India’s first-ever Paralympic gold medal in archery at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. This achievement comes three years after his groundbreaking bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, further solidifying his status as a trailblazer in Indian para-archery.
On Wednesday, at the iconic Invalides venue in Paris, Harvinder Singh competed in the men’s individual recurve open event. The 33-year-old Indian para-archer demonstrated exceptional skill and composure, defeating Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek in a commanding 6-0 victory in the final match.
Reflecting on his victory, Harvinder expressed, “It feels fantastic, because it was a dream from 12 years ago when I started archery. I just controlled my emotions, movements, controlled my shooting, and the result is this gold medal.”
Despite his eventual triumph, Harvinder’s journey to gold wasn’t without challenges. He slipped to ninth place in the qualification round held the previous Thursday. However, he demonstrated remarkable mental fortitude, explaining, “I just made my emotions strong and just focused on my next match, because only then can I move into other rounds and, one by one, one match, one match, then finally the gold.”
Harvinder’s path to gold on Wednesday was marked by consistent and impressive performances:
All five of Harvinder’s victories came with a margin of at least four set points, showcasing his dominance throughout the competition.
Harvinder competes in the open category of para-archery. This classification includes archers who may have an impairment in the legs and use a wheelchair, or those with a balance impairment who shoot standing or resting on a stool.
Harvinder’s journey to Paralympic gold is a testament to his resilience. At just over a year old, he contracted dengue fever, requiring injections for treatment. Tragically, the side effects of these injections led to the loss of function in his legs.
Despite this early setback, Harvinder found his calling in archery. His journey from a child facing physical challenges to a Paralympic gold medalist spans 12 years of dedicated practice and unwavering determination.
Harvinder’s gold medal is not just a personal triumph but also a milestone for Indian para-archery:
Just two days prior to Harvinder’s victory, on Monday, the duo of Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar secured a bronze medal in the mixed compound open archery event, adding to India’s medal tally.
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