- By Vishal Pushkar
- Wed, 04 Sep 2024 11:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Indian para-archer Harvinder Singh created history to clinch gold medal in the Men's Individual Recurve Open competition of the Paris Paralympics here on Wednesday. Notably, it was India's first gold medal in the history of the Paralympic event.
It was a dominant show in the finals by the Tokyo bronze-medallist as he defeated Poland's Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 (28-24, 28-27, 29-25) to claim the much-awaited medal.
Earlier, Harvinder overturned a 1-3 deficit to triumph over Iran's Mohammad Reza Arab Ameri 7-3 to proceed to final.
Who is Harvinder Singh?
Harvinder, a Ph.D. candidate in Economics, showcased remarkable endurance and composure as he won five consecutive matches in a single day, securing India's second medal in archery at the ongoing Paralympics. Despite the immense physical and mental demands, Harvinder demonstrated neither fatigue nor nerves, etching his name in history once again.
Born into a farming family in Ajit Nagar, Haryana, Harvinder's journey has been one of perseverance and resilience. As a toddler, he suffered from the side effects of dengue treatment, which left him with impaired legs. Despite these early life challenges, Harvinder's determination propelled him forward.
He made his international debut at the 2017 Para Archery World Championship, where he finished seventh. The following year, he won a gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Harvinder's father converted their farm into an archery range, allowing him to continue his training uninterrupted.
Harvinder's dedication paid off when he made history by winning India's first-ever archery medal, a bronze, at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago.
