Asian Para Games 2023: Pramod Bhagat, Suhas Yathiraj, Thulasimathi win gold in para badminton
M Sudharshan
Nitesh Kumar and Tarun won the other gold medal for India.
The Indian badminton contingent displayed remarkable performances, securing four medals at the Asian Para Games 2023. While gold medals were abundant, a few doubles teams narrowly missed gold and settled for silver. The day began with Tokyo Paralympic gold medalist Krishna Nagar winning silver in the men’s singles SH6 category, despite playing through an injury.
In an intense all-Indian final between Pramod Bhagat and Nitesh Kumar, Bhagat emerged victorious in the men’s singles SL3 category, showcasing his experience in a closely fought battle. This victory marked his first-ever gold in the Asian Para Games, adding to his impressive tally of six medals in the competition.
Following the men’s singles matches, it was the women’s turn to shine. Thulasimathi Sundaresan secured a hard-fought victory in women’s singles SU5, defeating China’s Yang Qiuxia with a score of 21-19, 21-19. Thulasimathi made an incredible comeback in the second game, erasing a ten-point deficit (6-16) with a spectacular run of 12 straight points, ultimately clinching the match in straight games.
Later in the day, Thulasimathi partnered with Manasi Joshi to secure a silver medal in women’s doubles.
The doubles contingent, after multiple bronze medals, tasted gold for the first time when Nitesh Kumar and Tarun defeated Indonesia in a thrilling three-game match. In the same category, Pramod Bhagat and Sukant Kadam clinched bronze, despite losing their semifinal match to the Indonesian pair.
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Tokyo Paralympic silver medalist Suhas Yathiraj claimed gold in the men’s SL4 category by defeating Malaysia’s Burhanuddin Bin in three games. Suhas overcame a slow start, taking control in the second game and dominating the Malaysian in the third, allowing him to score only nine points. This victory serves as a confidence boost for Suhas as he prepares for the Paris Paralympics.
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