Army Havildar Gurdev Singh, Who Lost Leg in Uri Mine Blast, Wins Para Rowing Silver

New Delhi, October 24, 2026: Havildar Gurdev Singh of the Indian Army’s 16 SIKH Light Infantry has turned a life-altering mine blast injury into a story of sporting success, emerging as a medal-winning para-rower after losing his left leg below the knee in a 2024 explosion in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.

Serving in the Indian Army since 2011, Gurdev Singh suffered grievous injuries in the mine blast, which abruptly changed the course of both his life and military career. But rather than allowing the injury to define him, he chose to rebuild his future through sport.

The soldier’s response to adversity was shaped by a simple thought that became his personal resolve: “If I can’t walk with legs, I can always march with hands.” That mindset led him to rowing, a demanding discipline that requires upper-body strength, endurance, coordination and mental discipline.

In 2025, he joined the Army Rowing Node in Pune, where he began training seriously for para-rowing. There, he channelled the same determination that had sustained him through military service and recovery into competitive sport, working through rigorous sessions to develop the technique and stamina needed at the national level.

His progress was soon reflected in results. Gurdev Singh went on to win medals at several national-level competitions, including a silver medal at the 2026 Para Rowing Championship. The achievement marked a significant personal turnaround for the havildar, who had been battling the effects of a severe combat-related injury only a short time earlier.

The Army highlighted his journey under its #StoriesOfGrit initiative, recognising his ability to rise above physical limitation and pursue excellence after a life-changing injury. His transition from wounded soldier to para-athlete has been presented as an example of the resilience and fighting spirit associated with the Indian Army.

Gurdev Singh’s story has also been framed as an inspiration beyond the military community, offering a message of perseverance to fellow soldiers, persons with disabilities and young Indians across the country. From surviving a devastating blast in Uri to standing on the podium as a national-level para-rowing medallist, he has shown that an injury may alter a soldier’s path, but not his determination to succeed.