Para-archer Harvinder Singh was conferred the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, honouring his trailblazing achievements in Indian para-archery and his inspiring journey of resilience and success.
Born on February 25, 1991, in a remote village in Haryana, Harvinder Singh defied early life challenges to etch his name in India’s sporting history. A childhood medical mishap resulted in a permanent disability in his left leg, but this adversity became the foundation of his unyielding determination.
Taking up archery in 2012 under the mentorship of coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja, Harvinder’s rise was swift and inspirational. His international debut came in 2017, and within a year, he created history by clinching India’s first-ever gold medal in para-archery at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. He triumphed in the Men’s Individual Recurve (Open category), a feat that placed him firmly on the global map.
Harvinder Singh’s accomplishments only grew from there. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, he became the first Indian archer to win a Paralympic medal, securing bronze. He followed this with another bronze in the Men’s Team Recurve event at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.
However, it was his golden performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games that truly defined his legacy. With a commanding win in the Men’s Recurve Archery (Open category), Harvinder Singh delivered India’s first-ever gold medal in para-archery at the Paralympic level—a moment of immense pride for the nation.
Beyond the sporting arena, Harvinder Singh has also excelled in academics. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Punjabi University, Patiala, and is currently pursuing a PhD in the same field, embodying the spirit of all-round excellence.
His contributions have previously been recognised with the Arjuna Award in 2021 and the Bhim Award by the Haryana government in 2022. Now, with the conferment of the Padma Shri, Shri Harvinder Singh joins the ranks of India’s most respected civilian honourees.