On a clear evening in Paris, Indian archer Harvinder Singh made history by winning gold at paris Paralympics 2024 in the men’s recurve open category. This victory marked the first time an Indian archer, either in the Paralympics or Olympics, had reached the final and won a gold medal. Harvinder, already the first Indian archer to win a Paralympic medal (a bronze in Tokyo), topped his previous achievement with an impressive performance.
The Final Moments
As Harvinder pulled back his arrow during the final, his hands were slightly shaky. He had already hit two nines, keeping him close to Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek, who had scored three nines. After winning the first set with ease, Harvinder needed just one more nine to stay ahead. Taking a deep breath, he released the arrow. It landed a perfect ten, near the center of the target. The judge was visibly surprised, and Ciszek’s head dropped, signaling the end of the contest even though another set remained. Harvinder secured a 6-0 victory to claim the gold medal.
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A Path to Gold
Harvinder’s journey to gold wasn’t just about his skill but also his ability to perform under pressure. Throughout the tournament, he delivered clutch shots, consistently closing out sets with precision. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, he hit six set-winning tens, proving his mental toughness. Even when he tied or lost the first set, Harvinder always found a way to bounce back with crucial shots.
Perfect Scores Under Pressure
In the biggest match of his life, Harvinder showed his dominance by hitting four tens and five nines, finishing with scores of 28, 29, and 28 out of 30. At no point did his opponent, Ciszek, take the lead. Harvinder’s composure and focus were unmatched, showcasing a level of control and calmness rarely seen from Indian athletes on such a big stage.
Overcoming the Odds
Before the Games, few considered Harvinder a favorite for the gold. Despite winning bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics, he was ranked 12th in the world and had only reached the final of one major international event in his career. His ninth-place finish in the ranking round also kept him out of the spotlight. However, this helped him quietly build confidence in the knockout rounds.
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A History of Clutch Performances
Harvinder has a reputation for performing well under pressure. During the Tokyo Paralympics, he won three single-arrow shoot-offs to claim his bronze medal. Over the past three years, he has further developed his ability to stay calm in crucial moments.
Harvinder’s Journey
Harvinder’s journey to the top of the archery world began after he lost significant function in his legs due to a severe case of dengue at just one and a half years old. The treatment had lasting side effects, but Harvinder found hope in sports after the 2012 Paralympics. He began pursuing archery and made his World Championship debut in 2017, finishing seventh.
Now, at 33, Harvinder stands as a two-time Paralympic medalist, with his name etched in India’s sports history. Alongside his archery career, Harvinder is also working on his PhD in economics at Punjabi University in Patiala. His story is a testament to perseverance and hard work, inspiring many in the world of sports.
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