Pooja Khanna
India's first Paralympic archer, debuted at Rio 2016.
Pooja Khanna is an Indian para-archer who became the first Paralympic archer from India when she competed at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. She was the only archer among the 19 athletes India sent to those Games.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Pooja Khanna
- Nationality
- Indian
- Birth Date
- 1990-11-19
- Birth Place
- Rohtak, Harayana, India
- Country
- India
- Sport
- Archery
- Disability
- Poliomyelitis (Right Leg)
- Paralympics
- Represented (2016)
- Highest Ranking
- 41 (2018)
- Medal Templates
- Women's Archery / India / Para National Archery Championship 2016 / Rohtak · Recurve
- Show Medals
- yes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Pooja Khanna was born in Rohtak, Haryana, to parents who worked odd jobs; her father was a bin and scrap collector. Diagnosed with Poliomyelitis in childhood, she initially pursued shooting at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Rohtak but left due to high costs and limited future scope. She then took up discus throw for three years, competing at higher levels, before switching to archery in 2014. She learned the sport in two and a half years. Her family, Dalit and financially struggling, initially opposed her archery career but later supported her. She faced discrimination and untouchability during training. Khanna completed a Master's degree in Library Sciences from Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak, and is the eldest of four siblings.
Reader's Guide
Pooja Khanna's participation in the 2016 Rio Paralympics marked the first time an Indian athlete competed in para-archery at the Paralympic level. She secured India's spot in the Games by finishing fifth at the final Paralympic Qualifier in the Czech Republic, earning a World Quota for the Recurve Women Open. In Rio, she advanced to the Round of 32, where she lost to Poland's Milena Olszewska 2–6 across four sets: 22–25, 21–23, 25–24, 22–23. Khanna finished 29th overall among 32 archers, while Olszewska placed fourth. Her journey from a financially struggling Dalit family to becoming India's first Paralympic archer represents a significant step for representation in Indian para-sports, particularly for athletes with disabilities from marginalized backgrounds.
Did You Know?
- Pooja Khanna was India's first ever Paralympic archery player.
- She was the only archer among the 19 Indian athletes at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
- She switched to archery in 2014 after previously competing in discus throw for three years.
- Her father worked as a bin and scrap collector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pooja Khanna?
Pooja Khanna is an Indian para-archer from Rohtak, Haryana, who lives with the effects of poliomyelitis. She is best known for representing India in archery at the Paralympic level.
Why is Pooja Khanna considered a pioneer in Indian sport?
She became the first archer ever to represent India at the Paralympic Games when she competed in Rio in 2016. At those Games she was also the sole archer in India's 19-athlete delegation, making her a trailblazer for the discipline in the country.
What event did Pooja Khanna compete in at the 2016 Rio Paralympics?
She entered the Recurve Women Open class, which is the open-category recurve division for para-archers at the Paralympics.
How did Pooja Khanna's Rio 2016 campaign end?
She was eliminated in the Round of 32 after falling to Poland's Milena Olszewska, which left her ranked 29th out of the 32 competitors in the bracket.
What is Pooja Khanna's legacy for Indian para-archery?
By qualifying and competing in Rio, she opened the door for future Indian para-archers to compete on the Paralympic stage. Her appearance in 2016 established a precedent that had not existed before for the sport in India.
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