Indian Para-Archers Make History Despite Narrow Miss in Bronze Medal Match

India's para-archery team of Harvinder Singh and Pooja narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics but made history by winning two medals overall. Singh secured India's first-ever para-archery gold, while Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi won bronze in a separate event.

India's para-archery duo, Harvinder Singh and Pooja, narrowly missed a bronze medal against Slovenia's Ziva Lavrinc and Dejan Fabcic in the mixed team recurve open at the Paris Paralympics on Thursday. Despite the defeat, their performance was historic for India's para-archery team.

For the first time in Paralympic history, India secured two medals in para archery, including a gold and a bronze. Harvinder Singh clinched India's first-ever gold medal in para archery by defeating Poland's Lukasz Ciszek in a dominant 6-0 final. Additionally, the pair of Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi secured a bronze in the mixed-team compound event.

The Indian duo started strong but ultimately fell to a 4-6 defeat in the bronze medal match. Initial hopes were high after Harvinder and Pooja led 33-30 in the first set, but the Slovenian pair leveled the score in the second set. India regained the lead in the third set but lost the fourth, leading to a decisive shootout that Slovenia won.

Earlier in the semifinals, Harvinder and Pooja lost to Italy's Elisabetta Mijno and Stefano Travisani with a 6-2 scoreline, after comfortably winning their quarter-final match against Poland with a 6-0 score.

(With inputs from agencies.)