Tarundeep Rai (born 22 February 1984){{cite web |url=http://www.london2012.com/athlete/rai-tarundeep-1018657/ |title=Tarundeep Rai – Archery – Olympic Athlete |publisher=2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. International Olympic Committee |access-date=2 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801031754/http://www.london2012.com/athlete/rai-tarundeep-1018657/ |archive-date=1 August 2012 }} is an Indian archer from Sikkim.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/23/stories/2005062309202000.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806001330/http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/23/stories/2005062309202000.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2012|title=Tarundeep Rai in good form|date=23 June 2005|work=The Hindu|access-date=6 February 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/17/stories/2007081757412100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619083214/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/17/stories/2007081757412100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 June 2011|title=Tarundeep Rai withdraws |date=17 August 2007|work=The Hindu|access-date=6 February 2010}} He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 by the Government of India for his contribution to sports. He is a three time Olympian.

Early life

Rai was born in Namchi, Sikkim, India. He is supported by a sports NGO, Olympic Gold Quest.

Career

File:The President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Arjuna Award -2005 to Shri Tarundeep Rai for Archery, at a glittering function in New Delhi on August 29, 2006.jpg

Rai made his international debut in 2003 at the age of 19 years at the Asian Archery Championship 2003 held at Yangon, Myanmar. He won India's maiden individual silver medal at the 16th Asian Games on 24 November 2010 in Guangzhou, China.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/16th-asian-games-2010/india-news/Tarundeep-Rai-creates-history-at-Asian-Games/articleshow/6981544.cms|title=Tarundeep Rai creates history at Asian Games|date=24 November 2010|work=The Times of India|access-date=25 November 2010}}{{Cite magazine |author=S. Kannan |date=November 25, 2010 |title=Rai wins silver and scripts history |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/asian-games-2010-guangzhou-china/story/rai-wins-silver-and-scripts-history-86133-2010-11-25 |access-date=2021-07-23 |magazine=India Today |language=en}}

Earlier, he was also a member of the Indian team that won a bronze medal at the 15th Asian Games in Doha in 2006.

He became an Olympian taking part in the 2004 Summer Olympics, where he was placed 32nd in the men's individual ranking round with a 72-arrow score of 647.{{cite web|url=http://www.iloveindia.com/sports/archery/indian-archers/tarundeep-rai.html|title=Tarundeep Rai Profile|publisher=iloveindia.com|access-date=6 February 2010}} He faced Alexandros Karageorgiou of Greece in the first elimination round and lost 147-143. His final rank was 43. He was also a member of the Indian men's archery team that was place 11th at the 2004 Olympics.

= Injury =

He was out of action for two years in 2007 and 2008 due to a career-threatening shoulder injury.{{Cite magazine|author=Tushar Bhaduri |date=July 14, 2012 |title=Tarundeep Rai makes comeback for London Olympics|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/olympics-2012/story/tarundeep-rai-makes-comeback-for-london-olympics-109424-2012-07-14|access-date=2021-07-23|magazine=India Today|language=en}} He won a silver medal at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games in the individual event.{{Cite magazine|author=Dola Banerjee |date=July 31, 2012 |title=London Olympics: Moment of pride for India and the archers|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/olympics-2012/story/london-olympics-indian-archers-deepika-jayanta-tarundeep-rahul-111340-2012-07-27|access-date=2021-07-23|magazine=India Today|language=en}}

= London Olympics =

Rai was part of Indian men's recurve team at the 2012 London Olympics.{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tournaments/london-olympics/Indian-archery-team-books-Olympic-ticket/articleshow/14348332.cms | title= Indian archery team books Olympic ticket|date=23 June 2012}} after India took third place in the qualification round at Ogden, US in 2012.{{Cite web |date=2012-06-20 |title=London 2012: Indian archers ranked 3rd for qualifying round |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/olympics-2012/story/london-2012-indian-archers-ranked-3rd-olympic-qualifier-106332-2012-06-19 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=India Today |language=en}}

He was a part of the Indian archery team that finished 4th at the 2003 World Championship in New York City. His was also part of the Indian team that won silver medal at the 2005 World Championship in Madrid, Spain. He also became the first Indian to make it to the semifinal round of the World Archery Championship in 2005 where he narrowly lost to Won Jong Choi of South Korea by 106-112 for the bronze medal play-off.

He won three gold medals at South Asian Games in Guwahati and Shillong.{{Cite magazine|author=Sudeer Mahavaadi |date=February 22, 2016 |title=Exclusive: Star archer Tarundeep Rai eyes Olympic glory after rich haul at South Asian Games|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/other-sports/story/exclusive-star-archer-tarundeep-rai-eyes-olympic-glory-after-rich-haul-at-south-asian-games-309924-2016-02-22|access-date=2021-07-23|magazine=India Today|language=en}}

= Tokyo Olympics =

Rai along with Atanu Das and Praveen Jadhav won a quota place and took part in Tokyo Olympics.{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=John |date=2019-06-12 |title=Indian men upset Canada to qualify three places for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games |url=https://worldarchery.org/news/170671/indian-men-upset-canada-qualify-three-places-tokyo-2020-olympic-games |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=World Archery |language=en}} Due to lockdown, he trained at ASI campus.{{Cite web |author=Scroll Staff |date=4 April 2020 |title=Archer Tarundeep Rai using lockdown time to build shoulder muscles, stay in shape for Tokyo Olympics |url=https://scroll.in/field/958200/archer-tarundeep-rai-using-lockdown-time-to-build-shoulder-muscles-stay-in-shape-for-tokyo-olympics |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2020-04-29 |title=Bonding in isolation: Archers Tarundeep and Pravin stay sharp amid lockdown |url=https://www.espn.in/espn/story/_/id/29112142/archery-mates-tarundeep-rai-pravin-jadhav-stay-sharp-amid-lockdown |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=ESPN |language=en}} He reduced 14 kg in six months.{{Cite web |title='I lost 14 kgs in six months' - Veteran Indian archer Tarundeep Rai targets Tokyo medal after gruelling fitness journey |url=https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/i-lost-14-kgs-in-six-months-veteran-indian-archer-tarundeep-rai-targets-tokyo-me/ |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=Olympic Channel}}{{Cite web |date=2020-12-23 |title=Tarundeep Rai: I need to win medal at Tokyo Olympics so I can meet my son's gaze |url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/tarundeep-rai-i-need-to-win-medal-at-tokyo-olympics-so-i-can-meet-my-sons-gaze-9128221.html |access-date=2021-01-12 |website=Firstpost}} He was part of the Indian team that defeated Kazakhstan in round of 16 in the men's team event. Later, they lost to Republic of Korea in the quarterfinals. In the individual event, he defeated Oleksii Hunbin of Ukraine 6-4 in the 1st round but lost to Itay Shanny of Israel in Round 2 in a one arrow shoot-off.

= Paris Olympics =

Rai was selected to take part in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games at Paris in both individual and team events. He lost to Tom Hall of England in 1/32 eliminations in the individual match.

Awards

He received Arjuna Award in 2005.{{cite news|date=18 August 2006|title=Pankaj Advani named for Khel Ratna|work=The Hindu|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/08/18/stories/2006081811182000.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606111035/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/08/18/stories/2006081811182000.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 June 2011|access-date=6 February 2010}}
He received Padma Shri in 2020.{{cite web|title=Padma Awards: 2020|url=https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2020AwardeesList_25012020_2.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|date=25 January 2020|access-date=26 August 2020|pages=2–6}}
In October 2023, ICFAI University in Sikkim conferred the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in recognition of his efforts in archery.