Indian para-archer Harvinder Singh has qualified for the semi-finals at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo today. He qualified in the recurve archery men’s open section.
The World No. 23 Harvinder Singh who was the first Indian para-archer to win a gold medal in a major event at the Para-Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018 had to fight a very sturdy challenge from Italian para-archer Stefano Trevisani to win 6-5 (10-7) via shootout. The 30-year-old archer who has been seeded 21st had squandered a big lead of 4-0 after he hit a seven in the third set and the Italian gradually made a comeback to level the game at 5-5 but Singh shot a perfect ten during the tiebreaker to seal. the victory against the Italians.
He met Ukrainian para-archer Bato Tsydendorzhiev in the quarterfinal rounds. He defeated him by the same score through a shoot out to reach the last eight stages of the tournament. The Indian para-athlete staged a comeback in this match as he won the third and fourth set after losing the two initial ones. Harvinder hit an eight to seal the match and a spot in the quarterfinals.
In the quarters, he faced off with Germany’s Maik Szarszewski who he defeated 6-2 to enter the semi-final rounds of the recurve archery competition.
Vivek Chikara, who was the Asian Para Championship winner in 2019, also competed in the same event and had ended up among the best 10 in the ranking round. He dominated the match against Sri Lanka’s para-archer Sampath Bandara Megahamulea Gadara 6-2 to reach the last 16 where he faced Great Britain’s, David Philips. The World No.13 overcame a blip when he shot a six with consistent shooting to win the game. Chikara, unfortunately, lost his next game against Philips 7-3 in five sets at the Yumenoshima Final Field.
Harvinder Singh’s leg was amputated due to contracting dengue at one and a half years old and a local doctor administered an injection which made his legs stop working. Chikara found himself in an accident when his motorcycle was hit by a speeding truck. His left leg had to be amputated due to that.
The Open section in Archery is for combined W2 (wheelchair) and ST (standing) classes, including those who use a wheelchair or have balance impairment and shoot while standing or sitting on a stool. Assistance can be used. Archers can even use their mouths to shoot.
