Who is Harvinder Singh? India’s First Archer To Win Gold Medal At Paralympics

Paralympics: Harvinder Singh is an Indian Paralympic archer from Haryana who 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.

The Indian archer won a bronze medal in the men’s individual recurve event at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, showcasing his extraordinary talent and determination on the world stage. Singh’s extraordinary achievements have not only brought pride to India, but have also inspired countless others to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams.

Who is Harvinder Singh?

Harvinder Singh was born on 25 February 1991 in Kattar, Haryana. He is an Indian Para-archer who has represented India in various international competitions. He has won several medals, including a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games.

The famous disabled archer has a leg disability caused by a medical accident when he was one and a half years old.

After contracting dengue fever, local doctors gave him an injection that severely affected his mobility and prevented him from moving his legs properly.

Despite the challenges, Singh continued to excel in archery, becoming an outstanding Para-athlete and winning multiple medals, including India’s first Paralympic archery medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Profession

Harvinder Singh was inspired to start his archery career by the 2012 London Paralympic Games. He first encountered the sport in 2010 while watching archers train at Punjab University.

Inspired by the performances he had seen during the London Olympics, he joined the archery range the next day.

Singh made his international debut at the 2017 Para Archery World Championships, finishing seventh. His hard work paid off when he won a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games, marking a major milestone in his career.

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Harvinder Singh’s medal list

Singh’s archery journey was both exciting and difficult. He faced many challenges and obstacles along the way, but despite the difficulties, he persevered, constantly improving his skills, and eventually became a formidable archer.

Singh showcased his determination and talent on the international stage by winning gold for India in the men’s individual recurve event at the 2018 Asian Para Games. He also won a bronze medal in the individual event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Likewise, at the 2022 Asian Para Games held in 2023, he won another bronze medal and contributed to the success of the Indian team.

Most recently, Singh won a bronze medal at the Para Archery World Ranking Championships held in the Czech Republic in June 2024. Prior to that, in April 2024, he also won a bronze medal at the 2024 Oceania World Archery Para Grand Prix held in Australia.

Year event Medal Type category
2018 Asian Para Games Gold Men’s Individual Recurve
2020 Tokyo Paralympics bronze Men’s Individual Recurve
2022 Asian Para Games (2023) bronze Men’s Recurve Team
2024 Paris Paralympics Gold Men’s Individual Recurve
2024 World ranking for disabled archery bronze Single Item
2024 World Archery Oceania Para Grand Prix bronze Single Item

Harvinder Singh to attend 2024 Paralympics

On August 29, Singh finished fourth with 637 points and advanced to the ranking tournament. He performed well and reached the knockout round, showing great skills and determination.

In the semi-finals, he staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Iran’s Mohammad Reza Arab Ameri. The victory advanced him to the final against Poland’s Lukasz Cizek.

In the final, Singh performed well and won three consecutive games with a score of 6-0, winning the gold medal in the men’s recurve bow individual event. He became the first disabled archer in India to win multiple Paralympic medals, making history.

Havinder fought back from 2-1 down to win 7-3. In the round of 16, he defeated Indonesian player Setiawan 6-2. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Colombian player Hector Ramirez by the same score.

team Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 All
India XXVIII XXVIII XXIX 6
Poland twenty four XXVII XXV 0

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