Archer Harvinder corners glory at Para Asian Games

CHANDIGARH: Harvinder Singh, an economics scholar from the Punjabi University, created history on Wednesday by winning India's first-ever Para Asian gold medal in archery. The 27-year-old from Kaithal in Haryana was left with a stunted left foot because of a wrong injection for fever when he was five.
He beat China's Zhao Lixue 6-0 in the final of W2/ST category (athletes with limited impairment, who may take aim without needing a wheelchair) of the men's individual recurve event in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"This medal is for my mother, who passed away last month due to kidney failure. She made a lot of sacrifices for my biggest achievement. I wanted her to hold the yellow metal," an emotional Harvinder told TOI over telephone from Jakarta.
"The past couple of months were very chaotic for me. I had to submit my PhD synopsis when the national camp was underway. But thanks to my federation, I got some leniency and was given time to submit it," said the PhD student from Punjabi University in Patiala.
"A week after submitting my synopsis, my mother passed away. I was shattered, but my coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja (former national compound archery coach) gave me confidence to compete. I was very nervous and told him that I was not ready for the Para Asian Games, but he encouraged me and advised me to focus on my game," he added.
Harvinder, who belongs to a family of farmers took up archery as a hobby at the Patiala University. Teja, who recently resigned as the national coach over the Dronacharya snub, asked him to take up the sport professionally. Commenting on his coach, the para athlete from Kaithal's Wazirnagar village, said: "This is a conspiracy against him. India have lost a great coach. He has proved his worth, he should get his due."
Besides completing his PhD, an excited Harvinder is keen on winning a Paralympic medal now. "My main aim is to win a medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, but before that I will be competing at the World Championship, which will be held in the Netherlands next year."