Harvinder Singh Makes History as India's First Paralympic Gold Medalist in Archery

On Wednesday, Harvinder Singh became India’s first Paralympic gold medalist in archery.

At 33, Singh, also pursuing a PhD in Economics, showed outstanding skill and focus. Following a bronze win in Tokyo, he triumphed in five matches in a single day to claim gold.

Path to Victory

Singh’s path to gold included wins over Hector Julio Ramirez (6-2), Tseng Lung-Hui (7-3), and Setiawan Setiawan (6-2). He made a comeback in the semifinals, defeating Mohammad Reza Arab Ameri (7-3).

Final Performance

In the final, Singh beat Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 with remarkable precision, scoring three 10s in his last four arrows, securing the gold with a score of 28-24, 28-27, 29-25.

Early Challenges

From Ajit Nagar in Haryana, Singh faced early life challenges due to a dengue-related disability. Inspired by the 2012 Paralympics, he began archery, debuting in 2017 and winning gold at the 2018 Asian Para Games. During the COVID-19 lockdown, his father set up an archery range on their farm to support his training.

Celebration

Singh’s gold medal is a significant achievement for India and was widely celebrated by his family and the nation.