Seasoned campaigner Tarundeep Rai is one of the most decorated Indian archers. The veteran archer, who is now 37 years old, has come a long way since making his first Olympic appearance in 2004 in Athens. Starting his career in archery at the age of 19, he scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a silver medal in the men’s individual category in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
For his achievements in archery, Tarundeep was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2005 and in 2020, the Government of India had honoured the veteran archer by bestowing him with the Padma Shri Award, the fourth highest civilian award in India.
Age – 37
Sports/Discipline - Archery
Working Ranking – 17
First Olympic Games – Athens 2004
Major Achievements
World Championships
Silver - Men’s Team, 2019 Hertogenbosch
Silver – Men’s Team, 2005 Madrid
Asian Archery Championships
Bronze – Recurve Team, 2019 Bangkok
Bronze – Recurve Team, 2005 New Delhi
Commonwealth Games
Bronze – Recurve Bow Team Men, 2010 Delhi
Asian Games
Silver - Individual, 2010 Guangzhou
Bronze – Men’s Team, 2006 Doha
Tokyo Olympics Qualification
Tarundeep is all set to for probably his final appearance in an Olympics – his third 2004 Athens and 2012 London. He met the quota requirements for the Tokyo Olympics and will be travelling to the Japanese capital with Atanu Das and Praveen Jadhav. He will hope to bow out with an Olympic medal this summer.
Recent Performances
While compatriots Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari bagged gold in the World Cup stages in Paris, Tarundeep made an early exit in the last 32 of the World Cup stage 1 as he lost to Virgin Island’s Nicholas D’Amour in a shoot-off 5-6 (9-10). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tarundeep had decided to be a part of the Asl campus and train for the Olympics.
2016 Rio Olympics Performance
Tarundeep did not participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics. His last appearance for India in the tournament was in the 2012 Olympics, where he finished 31st in the men’s individual ranking and 12th in the Indian men’s team ranking.
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