Indian para-archer Harvinder Singh, a gold medallist at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, is set to take on a new challenge by competing in able-bodied recurve archery events. His name has been included in the entry list for the World Field Archery Championships, marking a significant milestone in his already illustrious career.
India’s Rishabh Yadav, Abhishek Verma, and Jyothi Sureka Vennam have also found their names in the entry list or the World Field Archery Championships apart from Paris 2024 champion Harvinder Singh.
World Field Archery Championships will take place from 16 to 22 September 2024 at Lac La Biche in Canada.
Trailblazer for India in Paralympic Archery: Harvinder Singh
Harvinder Singh became the first Indian to win an archery medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Building on that success, he claimed India’s first-ever Paralympic gold in archery at the Paris 2024 Games. Competing in the men’s individual recurve open category, Singh dominated the final, defeating Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 in a clinical performance.
Reflecting on his achievement, Harvinder had said, “It feels fantastic because it was a dream I had 12 years ago when I started archery.” His disciplined approach helped him keep his emotions in check and focus on precision shooting, ultimately leading to his historic win.
Overcoming adversity
Harvinder Singh’s journey has been one of perseverance. At just over a year old, he lost function in his legs due to complications from dengue treatment. Despite this, he pursued archery with determination and rose to become a global star in para-archery. His remarkable focus and skill were evident as he won his Paralympic gold without losing a single set in his five victories at the Games.
Harvinder Singh now competing in able-bodied Category
Harvinder Singh’s entry into the able-bodied recurve archery event adds another dimension to his already impressive career. His success in para-archery, where athletes may have leg impairments but compete in standing or seated positions, demonstrates his ability to compete at the highest levels.
Although Singh has excelled in the Paralympic category, competing against able-bodied athletes will present new challenges. His inclusion in the World Field Archery Championships underscores his growing confidence and desire to expand his career beyond para-sports.
Looking to Olympic History
While Harvinder Singh embarks on this new journey, history is rich with examples of athletes who have competed in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. From New Zealand’s Neroli Fairhall, who became the first paraplegic athlete to compete in the Olympics, to South African runner Oscar Pistorius, who broke barriers in athletics, these athletes have shown that physical impairments are no obstacle to success.
For Harvinder, this next chapter in his career will test his skills in a different arena, and it will be exciting to see if he can replicate his success in the able-bodied category. His continued dedication to archery, coupled with his talent, suggests that he has the potential to achieve even greater heights.
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