Indian Para-Archery Squad at Paralympics 2024: Schedule, Medal chances

Para-archery is an integral feature of the Paralympic Games. It has been part of the Games since the Paralympics' inception in 1960.

The 2024 Paris Paralympics will have para-archery on its roster for the record 17th time. There will be nine medal events, similar to the last four editions of the Paralympics.

Great Britain is the most successful country in para-archery. They have maintained their position at the top of the overall medal tally with 68 medals.

They are closely followed by the USA (44) and South Korea (42) in second and third position, respectively. However, last time in Tokyo, the Chinese para-archery contingent topped the medal tally with eight medals.

India won only one para-archery medal at the Paralympics at the previous edition in Tokyo. This time in Paris, India sent a six-member team, their largest, aiming for a better show.

Medal Chances

Compound Archery: The Indian compound archers made tremendous growth since the last edition of the Paralympic Games. They have won three medals at the 2023 World Championships in Czechia.

The biggest medal hope for India in the compound category is the mixed team. The Indian mixed team played six tournaments since the Tokyo Paralympics and won medals in all these events, including four gold medals.

The rise of the first-ever female armless archer, Sheetal Devi, has also increased Indian hopes of winning their first compound medal. Sheetal won two major medals on her debut, a silver medal at the World Championships and a gold at the Asian Para Games.

Recurve Archery: On the other hand, Indian recurve archers had a pretty topsy-turvy run in the last few years. Paralympic medallist Harvinder Singh is still the most consistent recurve archer for India.

In 2024, Harvinder enjoyed a good run and won two individual medals in his last two events. However, the competition in the recurve category has gone up manifold, which meant he needs another great run to defend his medal.

Squad

Compound: Rakesh Kumar, Shyam Sundar Swami, Sheetal Devi, Sarita

Recurve: Harvinder Singh, Pooja Jatyan

Schedule

29th August

4:30 PM - Women's Compound Ranking Round

4:30 PM - Men's Recurve Ranking Round

8:30 PM - Women's Recurve Ranking Round

8:30 PM - Men's Compound Ranking Round

30th August

12:30 PM - Women's Individual Compound - Open 1/16 Elimination

7:00 PM - Men's Individual Compound - Open 1/16 Elimination

31st August

7:00 PM - Women's Individual Compound - Open (Round of 16 to Semis)

11:13 PM - Women's Individual Compound - Open - Medal Matches

1st September

7:00 PM - Men's Individual Compound - Open (Round of 16 to Semis)

11:13 PM - Men's Individual Compound - Open - Medal Matches

2nd September

7:00 PM - Mixed Team Compound - Open (Round of 16 to Semis)

10:35 PM - Mixed Team Compound - Open - Medal Matches

3rd September

12:30 PM - Women's Individual Recurve Open (First and second round)

8:30 PM - Women's Individual Recurve Open (Quarters and semis)

10:27 PM - Women's Individual Recurve Open - Medal Matches

4th September

12:30 PM - Men's Individual Recurve Open (First and second round)

9:00 PM - Men's Individual Recurve Open (Quarters and semis)

10:54 PM - Men's Individual Recurve Open - Medal Matches

5th September

1:30 PM - Mixed Team Recurve Open - Round of 16

6:30 PM - Mixed Team Recurve Open (Quarters and semis)

8:45 PM - Mixed Team Recurve Open - Medal Matches

History of Indian Para-archers at Paralympics:

Indian archers made their debut at the Paralympics in 1968 in Israel, where India sent a four-member team. However, the team failed to win any medals.

So far, Indian para-archers have participated in only four editions of the Paralympic Games. At the Tokyo Paralympics, India sent a five-member team.

The team also ended their long wait for an archery medal at the Tokyo Paralympics when Harvinder Singh won the bronze medal in the men's recurve open category.

He displayed his caliber in the competition, winning three matches on a shoot-off.

India, however, has not yet won a medal in the compound category.