Tarundeep Rai, a decorated Indian archer from Sikkim, has carved his name in archery history. Debuting at 19, Rai’s journey is marked by remarkable consistency and resilience. He has bagged numerous accolades, including a team bronze at the 2006 Asian Games and a silver at the 2010 Asian Games, becoming the first Indian archer to win an individual medal at the competition. Despite a shoulder injury and a hiatus, Rai’s comeback was strong, clinching a team silver at the 2019 World Championships and a Padma Shri in 2020. Currently ranked 31st globally, Rai’s focus is on the upcoming Asian Olympic qualifier, aiming to continue his legacy.
Tarundeep Rai’s Archery Schedule at Paris Olympics 2024
| Date | Day | Event | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th July 2024 | Thursday | Archery – Men’s Individual Ranking Round | – | 5:45 PM |
| 29th July 2024 | Monday | Archery – Men’s Team Round of 16 | Round of 16 | 1:00 PM onwards |
| 30th July 2024 | Tuesday | Archery – Men’s Individual | Round of 64 | 3:30 PM onwards |
Early Life and Background
Tarundeep Rai was born on February 22, 1984, in Namchi, a scenic high-altitude settlement in South Sikkim. Coming from a family with a rich sporting heritage, Rai’s cousin, Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia, had already put Sikkim on India’s sporting map. Rai continued the family legacy in the realm of archery, carving out a distinguished career of his own.
Professional Debut and Early Achievements
Tarundeep Rai made his international debut at the age of 19 during the 2003 Asian Archery Championships in Myanmar. That same year, he was part of the Indian archery team that finished fourth at the World Championships in New York. The following year, he secured his maiden gold medal at the 2004 Asian Grand Prix in Bangkok.
Olympic Journey
Rai’s first Olympic appearance came at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Competing in the men’s individual recurve event, he finished 42nd overall. Despite making it through the ranking round, he was knocked out in the first elimination round by Greek archer Alexandros Karageorgiou. In the team event, India finished 11th.
Continued Success and Recognition
In 2005, Rai played a pivotal role in securing a bronze medal for the Indian men’s recurve team at the Asian Archery Championships in New Delhi, followed by a silver at the World Championships in Madrid. His contributions earned him the prestigious Arjuna Award that same year.
Asian Games and Injuries
The 2006 Asian Games in Doha saw Rai, along with teammates Jayanta Talukdar, Mangal Singh, and Viswash, win a bronze medal in the men’s recurve team event. However, a shoulder injury in 2007 sidelined him for almost two years, causing him to miss the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Resurgence and Historic Achievements
Rai made a strong comeback in 2009, winning an individual recurve silver and a team gold at the Asian Grand Prix in Tehran. The year 2010 was particularly notable, as Rai became the first Indian archer to win an individual medal at the Asian Games, securing a silver. He also won his first Archery World Cup gold in the men’s team event in China and a team silver at the Porec World Cup in Croatia.
Further Olympic Endeavors
At the London 2012 Olympics, Rai finished 17th in the individual event and 9th in the team event. Although he did not qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics, he continued to compete at a high level.
Recent Successes and Recognition
In 2019, Rai, along with Pravin Jadhav and Atanu Das, won the men’s recurve team silver medal at the World Archery Championships in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, securing India’s full quota allocation for the Tokyo Olympics. For his contributions to Indian sports, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2020.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Rai reached the quarter-finals in the men’s team recurve event but was eliminated in the 1/16 elimination round in the individual event. He continued his success by winning the mixed team gold medal at the 2022 Antalya World Cup with Ridhi Phor and a team silver in 2023 at the same venue with Dhiraj Bommadevara and Atanu Das.
Personal Life
An army man, Tarundeep Rai is married to Anjana Bhattarai, and they have a son named Nusam Singh Rai.
Personal and Professional Details
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tarundeep Rai |
| Date of Birth | February 22, 1984 |
| Birthplace | Namchi, South Sikkim, India |
| Age | 40 |
| Spouse | Anjana Bhattarai |
| Children | Nusam Singh Rai |
| Cousin | Bhaichung Bhutia (Indian football legend) |
| Awards | Arjuna Award (2005), Padma Shri (2020) |
| Highest World Ranking (Individual) | 9 (March 22, 2013) |
| Current World Ranking | 31 (as of recent update) |
| Professional Details | Information |
|---|---|
| International Debut | 2003 Asian Archery Championships, Myanmar |
| First Major Medal | Gold at the 2004 Asian Grand Prix, Bangkok |
| Olympic Appearances | Athens 2004, London 2012, Tokyo 2020 |
| Best Olympic Finish (Team) | 9th place at London 2012 |
| Best Olympic Finish (Individual) | 17th place at London 2012 |
| Notable Achievements | Individual silver at 2010 Asian Games |
| Multiple World Cup medals (team and individual) | |
| Major Team Medals | 2019 World Archery Championships (Silver) |
| Recent Achievements | 2022 Antalya World Cup (Mixed Team Gold) |
| 2023 Antalya World Cup (Team Silver) |
Recent Competitions
| Event | Location | Date | Seed | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asian Olympic Qualifier | Thailand | November 9-12, 2023 | 2 | 7th |
| Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games | Japan | July 23-31, 2021 | 37 | 17th |
| London 2012 Olympic Games | Great Britain | July 27 – August 3, 2012 | 31 | 17th |
| Athens 2004 Olympic Games | Greece | August 12-21, 2004 | 32 | 42nd |
Tarundeep Rai’s journey in archery has been marked by resilience and dedication, making him a notable figure in Indian sports. His contributions have not only brought laurels to the country but have also inspired a new generation of archers.
Also read- https://globalbuzznetwork.com/paris-2024-olympics-full-schedule-india/