Harvinder Singh is an accomplished Para archer from India who made history by winning a bronze medal in archery at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. |
He hails from a middle-class farming family in Guhla Cheeka, a small village near Kaithal in Haryana, where he completed his primary schooling. |
At the age of one, Harvinder faced a challenge with his legs due to an adverse effect of an injection administered after dengue. |
After finishing schooling up to 10th grade in his village, he moved to Kaithal city for further studies. |
Inspired by the archery events at the 2012 London Olympics, Harvinder started training while pursuing his graduation at Punjabi University in Patiala. |
Over five years of dedicated practice, he excelled in archery, winning medals in state and national-level competitions. |
In 2017, he represented India for the first time at the 2017 World Archery Para Championships in Beijing, securing the 7th position. |
The year 2018 brought further glory as Harvinder clinched gold in Men’s Individual Recurve Open event at the 2018 Asian Para Games, a first for an Indian athlete in a major para competition. |
In 2019, he secured a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics after participating in the 2019 World Archery Para Championships in the Netherlands. |
Making history again, on September 3, 2021, Harvinder claimed India’s first-ever archery medal at the Paralympics by winning a bronze after a tough loss in the semifinals to USA's Kevin Mather. |