The hopes of India securing a second medal at the Paris Paralympics in archery took a heartbreaking turn as Harvinder Singh and Pooja Jatyan lost to Slovenia in a shoot-off for the bronze medal in the mixed doubles recurve team event.
The Indian duo, who had previously overcome Australia in a shoot-off and dominated their Polish rivals in the quarterfinals, faced a tough battle against top-seeded Italy in the semifinals. Despite a valiant comeback attempt, they fell short against the Italian duo of Elisabetta Mijno and Stefano Travisani, setting up a clash for bronze against Slovenia.
The bronze medal match saw a dramatic exchange of leads. Harvinder and Pooja, both hailing from Haryana, initially took a commanding 4-2 lead. However, a few crucial errors allowed Slovenia’s Ziva Lavrinc and Dejan Fabcic to level the match, forcing a shoot-off.
In the nail-biting shoot-off, Slovenia held their nerve, with Dejan Fabcic’s 9 followed by Ziva Lavrinc’s perfect 10 proving insurmountable. Harvinder and Pooja could only manage an 8 and a 9 respectively, ending their hopes of a medal.
Harvinder Singh, who had earlier made history as the first Indian archer to win gold at the Paralympics, had teamed up with Pooja to chase a second medal for India. Their journey saw them overcome obstacles, including a thrilling shoot-off victory against Australia in the round of 16 and a convincing quarterfinal win against Poland.
Despite the disappointment of the bronze medal match, the Indian archers showcased their resilience and skill throughout the tournament. Their performances have brought pride to the nation and highlighted the immense talent within India’s Paralympic archery contingent.
It is important to note that in the recurve open class, archers compete from a standing position, aiming at a 122cm target from a distance of 70 meters. The target is divided into 10 concentric circles, with scores ranging from 10 points for the center to 1 point for the outermost circle.
Both Harvinder Singh and Pooja Jatyan have overcome adversity in their lives. Harvinder was left with leg impairments due to side effects of injections he received as a child, while Pooja was diagnosed with polio at a young age. Their determination to excel in archery, despite these challenges, is a testament to their incredible spirit and serves as an inspiration to countless individuals.
While the bronze medal eluded them, Harvinder Singh and Pooja Jatyan have made their mark at the Paris Paralympics, showcasing their potential and the bright future of Indian archery on the international stage. Their journey serves as a reminder of the dedication, resilience, and skill required to compete at the highest level of Paralympic sport.
