Para Archery: Harvinder Singh aims for gold in World Ranking tournament

Paralympic medallists including Great Britain’s youngest winner in Rio 2016 Jessica Stretton headline a star-studded field as the 5th Fazza Para Archery World Ranking Tournament got underway with the qualification rounds in Dubai on Friday, a press release from Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) said.

Hosted by the Dubai Club People of Determination with the support of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) and in cooperation with Dubai Sports Council, General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and the UAE Paralympic Committee., the event has participation from around 100 archers from 20 nations, with Australiaand Bhutantaking part here for the first time.

With world rankings points on offer, the event is expected to offer some fierce competitions. Players and teams from Great Britain, Italy, Korea, Japan and Brazil will be the top ones to watch out for this week. Also don’t miss out the Malaysians and archers from Slovakia, with their World No. 1 Marcel Pavlik also in action here. Italy has arrived here with the largest contingent of 15 players with their Rio Paralympic silver medallist Alberto Simonelli spearheading the team in men’s compound open category.

Harvinder aims gold

India’s first Asian Para Games 2018 medallist Harvinder Singh is here too and looks to be in top form. Singh along with his compatriot Vivek Chikara have reached he second round in men’s recurve open category. A good match practice and medal is what Singh is targeting here. “It was a satisfactory round today. This is the first competition of the year so I am aiming to win a gold here and take the momentum to the World Championships. We can learn lot of things from the competition and amend our strategy and technique. The entire Indian team is looking to improve world ranking points here,” Harvinder told Asian Paralympic Committee (APC).

Mongolia’s Amarbayasgalan Azbilegwill also be aiming to make a mark in the category. The Japanese team has the likes of their Asian Para Games 2018 medallist Shigeshada Chika (recurve women)and Aya Shinohara (W1). Koreans Asian Para Games 2018 medallists Jeong Jin Young (compundopen women), Kim ok Geum (women’ W1) and Jang Dae Sung (men’s W1) also look confident.

Bhutan’s first para archer Pema Rigsel is looking to get some experience of playing ainternational competitions. He is just excited to be part of the competition and hoping to return home with some lessons. “I want to compete more in international meets and get experience. I am not aiming any medal. Everyone is so strong here,” he added.

The tournament runs till April 15 with the finals to be played on Monday.