Three years after becoming the first Indian to win an archery medal at Tokyo 2020, Harvinder Singh achieved a historic milestone by securing India’s first-ever Paralympic gold medal in archery at Paris 2024. Competing in the men’s individual recurve open event at Invalides, Singh dominated the final, defeating Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek 6-0.
Flawless Final Performance
Singh’s performance was flawless. He won the first set 28-24, then followed with a perfect 10 in the second set to lead 4-0. In the final set, Harvinder Singh started strong with two 10s, while Ciszek’s early seven hindered his chances of catching up. Singh’s consistent precision throughout the match earned him the top spot.
A Dream Fulfilled
“I am thrilled,” Harvinder Singh said. “This gold medal was a dream I’ve had for 12 years since I started archery. I focused on controlling my emotions and shooting well.”
Impressive Path to Victory
Singh’s journey to gold was impressive. He began the day with a 7-3 win over Chinese Taipei’s Tseng Lung-Hui, followed by victories against Indonesia’s Setiawan and Colombia’s Hector Julio Ramirez, each with a score of 6-2. In the semi-finals, he overcame Iran’s Mohammad Reza 7-3.
Harvinder Singh, who lost function in his legs due to side effects from dengue treatment, practiced rigorously leading up to the Games, even surpassing world record scores in practice. His gold medal is India’s second in archery at Paris 2024, following Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar’s bronze in the mixed compound open event.
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