Harvinder Singh Secures Historic Gold for India in Para Archery at Paris 2024
In a historic achievement for India, Harvinder Singh has clinched the nation’s first-ever gold medal in the discipline of Para archery at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. This landmark victory came three years after Singh secured India’s inaugural Paralympic archery medal, a bronze, at the previous Games. Competing in the men’s individual recurve open final, Singh demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, triumphing over Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek in straight sets, with a remarkable display that included hitting the center of the target four times.
Reflecting on his monumental victory, Singh expressed, “The thing that was in my mind was, ‘I have done it for India.’ Because at the last Paralympics, I just won bronze; I had to change the colour and perform well, and these are the things that I have done.” He continued, affirming his relief upon achieving gold, stating, “Then finally, I took a long breath and said, ‘Oh, I finally got the gold.'”
During his medal run, Singh focused intently on each arrow and each match, adhering to his mantra that archery is inherently unpredictable. He emphasized the importance of confidence in the sport, asserting that one must trust one’s abilities to hit the target effectively. Singh’s journey to the top of the podium is particularly inspiring given that he started the event ranked ninth. In celebration, he acknowledged his teammates in attendance, including Para archery sensation Sheetal Devi, who won bronze in the mixed team compound open, the first Para archery medal secured by India during these games. “I will celebrate with my teammates because they will celebrate even more than me,” he noted, indicating that the celebrations for his achievement would extend for several months.
Singh elaborated on the profound impact this accolade has on his life, sharing, “After Tokyo, my life totally changed. I got a status – everyone recognised me as the first Paralympic medallist in archery. Now they can recognise me as the first-ever gold medallist in archery.” The champion disclosed that his journey in archery commenced after he was inspired by the London 2012 Olympics, captivated by the sport’s unpredictability.
However, Singh’s path has not been without challenges. He recalled the emotional strain of competing at the Asian Para Games in 2018 following the passing of his mother, who he felt was present in spirit during his recent successes. “I was actually thinking about her before the matches and even after winning this gold medal about how happy she would be if she were here,” he reflected.
With this significant milestone achieved, Harvinder Singh expressed a desire to spend quality time with his family before embarking on his next challenge: the World Championships, where he hopes to secure the one remaining medal absent from his collection. “I want to continue playing for India to win medals for my country, making Indians, my coaches, and family proud. That is my goal even now,” he confidently stated.
In conclusion, Harvinder Singh’s unprecedented victory not only signifies a tremendous personal achievement but also serves as an inspiring narrative for aspiring athletes across the nation. His resilience and commitment exemplify the spirit of sportsmanship and determination that the Paralympic movement aims to promote.
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