Who is Harvinder Singh? Paralympic Gold Medalist Honoured with Padma Shri Award

Harvinder Singh, a trailblazing para-archer, has been conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award. Singh holds a unique place in history as the first Indian para archer to win a Paralympic gold medal. The 33-year-old defeated Poland's Lukasz Ciszek in a commanding 6-0 victory during the final, etching his name into the record books.

Harvinder made history at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics by winning a bronze medal, the first-ever Paralympic archery medal for India. Four years later, at the 2024 Paralympics, he raised the bar even higher, securing a gold medal

Who is Harvinder Singh?

Born in Ajit Nagar village in Haryana's Kaithal district, Harvinder Singh comes from a humble farming family. His life took a challenging turn early onat just 18 months old, he contracted dengue and underwent treatment that led to severe side effects, resulting in the loss of function in his legs.

Harvinder Singh began his archery journey under the guidance of coaches Jiwanjot Singh Teja and Gaurav Sharma at Punjabi University, Patiala. Initially competing in compound archery, he transitioned to recurve archery in 2015 to pursue greater challenges.

His path was far from easy, as he encountered numerous hurdles, including inadequate training facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these setbacks, Harvinder’s unwavering determination and resilience enabled him to rise above the challenges and excel in his sport.

Despite these hardships, Harvinder’s resilience and determination never wavered. He found his inspiration in the London 2012 Paralympics, sparking a passion for archery. Under the guidance of a dedicated coach, he made his debut on the global stage at the 2017 Para Archery World Championship, finishing in seventh place. A year later, he claimed a gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Para Games in 2018, further solidifying his rise in the sport.