‘Covid-19 ke dauran kheton mein practice karke medal laya’
India rose to its feet to applaud Harvinder Singh who clinched India’s first-ever archery medal at the Paralympics. Singh had trained on farmlands to procure a bronze medal for his nation. “Maine Covid-19 ke dauraan kheton mein target set up karke subah shaam practice ki,” he says.
Archery is a game of concentration and wit. To maintain his calm, Singh took to reading.“Mentally healthy rehne ke liye aur anxiety control karne ke liye novel padhta tha training ke saath saath. Sikhism ki history aur doosri literature padhta raha taki mentally healthy rahoon,” he adds.
Singh’s life had many ups and downs, yet he managed to rise above the challenges. He says, “Zindagi hume har gali ke mod pe hurdles deti hai. Uska mukabala karna hi ek khiladi ki life hai. Meri life mein sabse bada struggle tha jab main PhD kar raha tha. PhD ke liye jab mujhe synopsis deni thi tab Para Asian games ka time aa gaya. Usi dauraan meri mother ki death ho gayi, toh woh bhi bahut mushkil raha. Phir bhi maine haar nahin maani aur Para Asian Games mein gold medal jeet ke laya.”
Singh has a spiritual side to him, too. “Gurbani sunta hoon, meditate karta hoon aur isse mera concentration badhiya hota hai,” he says.
Singh, who loves to listen to Punjabi music, says Sidhu Moose Wala is his favourite. Crediting his victory to his coaching staff, Singh says, “Whatever I am today is all because of them.”
Naturally, his family, too, was delighted with his win and celebrated with fireworks! “Medal jeetne ke chaar ghante baad un se baat hui. Badiya mohol chal raha tha,” he adds.