Transforming Fate: Harvinder Singh's Rise from Archery Quitter to Paralympic Champion
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Synopsis
Harvinder Singh, a gold medalist at the Paris Paralympics and recipient of the Padma Shri, shares his inspiring journey from quitting archery to becoming a para archery icon. His return to the sport after a brief hiatus and subsequent success highlights his resilience and dedication.
Key Takeaways
- Harvinder Singh initially quit archery but returned to win gold at the Paris Paralympics.
- He transitioned from compound to recurve archery based on coach's advice.
- Harvinder made history by winning India's first gold in para archery.
- Despite personal challenges, he persevered to achieve international success.
- Advocates for better support and policies for para sports in India.
New Delhi, Jan 29 (NationPress) Harvinder Singh, the gold medallist in para archery at the Paris Paralympics and a recipient of the esteemed Padma Shri, revealed that he had initially abandoned archery three years after starting the sport. His return was prompted by his coach's advice to switch from compound to recurve archery.
A medal in Paris marked Harvinder's second Paralympic achievement, following his groundbreaking bronze at the Tokyo Games. Three years after securing India's first-ever Paralympic archery medal, he made history again by clinching the country's inaugural gold in the sport at the Paris Games last year.
In 1992, at just 18 months old, Harvinder suffered from dengue fever, and a local physician's injection caused an impingement in his left leg. Yet, this obstacle could not extinguish his aspirations.
Harvinder's journey in archery began after watching the London 2012 Olympic Games on television, where he trained in the compound category under coaches Jiwanjot Singh Teja and Gaurav Sharma. Although he quit after three years, his coaches encouraged him to return and transition to the recurve event.
He made his world stage debut in 2017 at the World Archery Para Championships in Beijing, finishing seventh. Since then, he has amassed six medals, including two at the Paralympics, achieved in consecutive editions.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Harvinder reflected on his journey, stating, "I made my international debut in 2017 and have continuously represented my country, earning medals. It feels rewarding to see my hard work pay off. There have been numerous challenges, but a true athlete confronts them and perseveres."
He also recounted hardships faced during his journey, including competing at the Asian Para Games in 2018 shortly after losing his mother. However, he turned his life around by winning gold at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia, becoming the first Indian athlete to secure a gold medal in para archery at a major event.
Harvinder, who is pursuing a doctorate in economics from Panjab University, discussed the various challenges he faced and emphasized that athletes must always be mentally prepared to tackle obstacles.
"I started in 2012 but quit after three years due to lack of improvement. I believed I could not continue in archery. My coach then changed my event, and just 20 days before the 2018 Asian Games, I lost my mother, which was incredibly challenging. The lockdown in 2020 followed, yet I continued to practice in the fields. We athletes are always prepared for challenges," he shared.
Regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal congratulations to medalists, Harvinder expressed, "Receiving a call from the Prime Minister after winning a medal is incredibly motivating. We tell our competitors about receiving a call from our PM, and they are astonished."
Harvinder, hailing from Kaithal village in Haryana, who received the Arjuna Award in 2021, expressed his excitement about winning the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honor. He eagerly anticipates visiting Rashtrapati Bhawan once more to receive the award from President Droupadi Murmu.
"I have been to the Rashtrapati Bhavan before for the Arjuna Award, and I can't wait to receive this honor from the President," said the 33-year-old, who is the first para archer to receive the Padma Shri.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of government support for para athletes and advocated for more policies to uplift para sports in the country.
"The government's support has been commendable from the start. I have been part of the TOPS scheme since 2019. The PCI and SAI have been consistently supportive. However, there is still much work to be done in India," he stated.
"The perception of para sports is changing, and they are receiving as much support as able-bodied sports. However, many states need to implement policies for this. While states like Haryana and Punjab have good policies, several states still do not recognize para sports enough, especially regarding job opportunities. These issues need addressing," he concluded.
