Tokyo Paralympics: Archer Harvinder Singh Wins Bronze In Men’s Individual Recurve

Harvinder Singh became the first Indian to win a medal in archery at the Paralympics with a bronze in the men’s individual recurve event in Tokyo on Friday. The Indian won a thrilling bronze medal contest against South Korea’s Kim Min Su via a shoot-off to script history for India at the Tokyo Paralympics. Harvinder Singh shot a 10 in the shoot-off in response to the South Korean’s 8 to clinch the bronze medal match 6-5. The Indian had suffered a heartbreak in the semis, losing a tightly-contested semi-final 4-6 to USA’s Kevin Mather.

In the bronze match, though, Harvinder was in top form. He got off to a brilliant start, shooting a 10 with his very first arrow. He followed it up with a 7 and 9 to take the first set 26-24.

The South Korean came roaring back to shoot a 9, 10, 10 to win the second set 29-27 and level the match at 2-2.

But Harvinder stuck to his guns and kept plugging away. He shot two 10s and a 8 to score 28 points while his opponent could only manage 25 as the Indian took a 4-2 lead.

Needing to win just a single set more, Harvinder started things off well with two 9s while Kim Min Su shot a 9 and an 8.

Promoted

The Korean, though, managed a 10 with his final arrow as compared to Harvinder’s 9 to win the fifth set 27-28 and sent the match into a shoot-off.

In the shoot-off, Kim Min Su was the first to go and he scored a solid 8 points. With the pressure of the bronze medal on his shoulders, Harvinder Singh produced a magical arrow to collect 10 points and with it India’s 13th medal in Tokyo so far.