Harvinder Singh becomes first Indian Archer to bag gold in Paralympic 2024

Digital Desk: Indian para-archer Harvinder Singh etched his name into the annals of sports history by clinching the first-ever Paralympics gold medal in archery for India on Wednesday. This landmark achievement occurred at the Paris Paralympics, where Harvinder triumphed in the Men's Individual Recurve Open category, defeating Poland's Lukasz Ciszek with a commanding 6-0 scoreline.

Harvinder’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He started the final with a blistering pace, securing scores of 9, 10, and 9 in the first set. In contrast, Ciszek managed just 9, 7, and 8. The second set saw both archers at their best, but Harvinder’s 10 outshone Ciszek’s 9, giving him a 4-0 lead. In the final set, Harvinder further cemented his dominance by shooting two 10s and a 9, while Ciszek could only muster a 7 and two 9s. This assured Harvinder's gold medal, marking India's fourth gold at the Paris Paralympics and the second medal of the day.

This victory is Harvinder Singh’s second Paralympic medal, following his bronze at the Tokyo 2021 Games. It also represents India's third archery medal of the 2024 Games, adding to the bronze medals won by Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi in the Mixed Team Compound Open.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Harvinder's achievement, stating, "A very special Gold in Para Archery! Congratulations to Harvinder Singh for winning the Gold medal in the Men's Individual Recurve Open at the #Paralympics2024! His precision, focus, and unwavering spirit are outstanding. India is very happy with his accomplishment."

Harvinder’s journey to this historic victory is a testament to resilience and determination. Hailing from Ajit Nagar village in Haryana's Kaithal district, Harvinder’s early life was marked by adversity. At just one and a half years old, he contracted dengue, which resulted in the loss of his leg function due to the side effects of treatment. Despite this setback, Harvinder’s passion for archery was ignited after watching the London Paralympics in 2012.

Encouraged by his coach, Harvinder made his debut at the 2017 Para Archery World Championship, finishing in seventh place. His breakthrough came in 2018 with a gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Para Games. During the COVID-19 lockdown, his father converted their farm into an archery range to aid his training. In addition to his sporting endeavors, Harvinder is pursuing a PhD in Economics from Punjabi University, Patiala.

Harvinder Singh’s triumph at the Paris Paralympics is not just an individual victory but also a proud moment for Indian sports, highlighting his extraordinary skill and unwavering spirit.