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Harvinder Singh scripted history by becoming the first Indian archer to clinch a gold at the Paralympics.
2024 Paris Paralympics gold medallist Harvinder Singh (X)
Para-archer Harvinder Singh, who is the first Indian to win a Paralympic gold, was named among the 30 unsung heroes of this country to be awarded the coveted Padma Shri award on Saturday.
India won six medals in the Paris Olympics and surpassed all expectations with a haul of 29 medals, including seven gold and nine silver, in the subsequent Paralympics.
As a member of the Indian para-contingent, Harvinder Singh scripted history by becoming the first Indian archer to clinch a gold at the Paralympics. The 33-year-old defeated Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 in a one-sided final to script history for himself and the country.
Who is Harvinder Singh?
Harvinder Singh, originally from Ajit Nagar village in Haryana’s Kaithal district, belongs to a farmer family. He faced adversity at a young age, when he was just one and a half years old, he contracted dengue and required injections for treatment. Unfortunately, the side effects of those injections led to the loss of function in his legs.
Despite this setback, he discovered a passion for archery while watching the London Paralympics in 2012. Recognizing his talent, his coach guided him to make his debut at the Para Archery World Championship in 2017, where he finished 7th. In 2018, he achieved further success by winning a gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Para Games.
Harvinder made history by winning bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics which is India’s first-ever archery medal at the Paralympics. He then went on to better his outcome in the following Games in 2024, where he clinched a Gold.
What are the Padma Awards?
The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service).
The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
