Paris Paralympics 2024: India's Nitesh Kumar clinches gold in para-badminton SL3 event

Nitesh Kumar retained the gold medal won by Pramod Bhagat in the last edition.

First seed Nitesh Kumar clinched the gold medal in the para badminton men’s singles SL3 event after defeating second seeded Daniel Bethell of Great Britain 21-14, 18-21, 21-13 in the final, at the Paris Paralympics 2024.

This medal is India’s nineth at the global showpiece event, and their first in the racquet sport in this edition. This is also the second time India’s national anthem has been heard at the Paris Games, after Avani Lekhara’s gold in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle SH1 event.

Nitesh Kumar is a #ParalympicGames CHAMPION!! 🇮🇳 👑He defeats tournament favourite Bethell Daniel of 🇬🇧 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 to take the GOLD 🥇 in #Parabadminton men's singles SL3 event. 🏸Defending champion Pramod Bhagat was banned, but no problem as India retains the GOLD… pic.twitter.com/GvojJxxIHJ

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 2, 2024

SL3 in para-badminton is a class for players with movement moderately affected on one side of the body, both legs, or the absence of limbs. The matches are played on a half width court.

The 29-year-old had beaten Japanese shuttler Daisuke Fujihara 21-16, 21-12 in the semi-final yesterday. Today, he put on a masterclass against the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics silver medallist, with some exquisite stroke play combined with a great defence, forcing the second seed to make errors, something which you don’t associate with the British player.

Also Read: Top nine Indian athletes with most medals at Paralympics

The match began with both shuttlers exchanging points. It was a safety-first approach for both, as they looked to avoid careless mistakes. Bethell did get a streak of points to go up 9-6. However, the Indian won five consecutive points, which included a perfect defensive shot from an attempted kill by the second seed. The latter thus went into the mid-game interval with a two-point lead.

Bethell took the lead once again and went up 13-11. Nitesh at this point upped his game. His brilliant stroke play resulted in the British para-shuttler looking rattled, a reaction not seen often from the veteran. Staggeringly, the Indian won 10 out of the next 11 points to take the first game 21-14.

The second game too saw both the players exchange points early, albeit the game now had more intensity. Both players, especially an under-fire Bethell, decided to go for their shots. However, the approach did lead to a few unforced errors. It was eventually Nitesh who went into the mid-game break with a three-point lead.

However, the second seed Brit was going nowhere, as he managed to level the scores at 14-apiece. From thereon, it was a cat-and-mouse battle as the points kept alternating between the two until 18-all. Bethell showed clutch play, executing some wonderful smashes, winning the next three points to clinch the second game 21-18.

The 28-year-old Bethell carried the momentum into the decider, taking an early two-point lead. However, Nitesh levelled scores at seven-all. Surprisingly, the British shuttler made a few bizarre calls at the back, leaving multiple shuttles which eventually landed inside the mark.

The Indian, for the third game in a row, went into the mid-game break with a one-point lead. This time, though, he was ahead just by one point. He then played some exquisite shots, to go up 17-12. However, Bethell displayed his big match experience, scoring four consecutive points to reduce the lead to just one.

A very close call went in favour of the second seed to make it 19-all. However, he then sent the shuttle just long giving Nitesh a match point. The Indian himself sent the shuttle long to make it 20-all.

Nitesh then saved a match point, and also won the next point to put one step into the final. His maiden Paralympic gold was secured when Bethel sent the next one wide for a 21-23 loss.

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The para-shuttler from Karnal, Haryana, who was a medal favourite, has been clinical throughout the tournament. He had a tough challenge in his very first match of the competition, going up against compatriot Manoj Sarkar. The Tokyo Paralympics 2020 bronze medallist made the first seed toil, with Nitesh eventually clinching a close three-setter.

The next two matches, however, proved to be much simpler as he secured straight games victories against Yang Jianyuan of China and Mongkhon Bunsun of Thailand. By virtue of topping Group A, he secured a spot in the semifinals, where he defeated Fujihara before winning the final today.

Nitesh had picked up football at a young age. However, an unfortunate train accident, when he fell out of a moving coach, meant that he needed prosthetics on his left foot and had to shift his focus to studies rather than sports. He creditably managed to secure admission at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, one of the top engineering institutes in the country. Nitesh picked up para-badminton at this very institute. Rest as they say is history.  

The shuttler has won three World Championship medals and four Asian Para Games medals (including three at the previous edition in Hangzhou).

Having seen his idol Pramod Bhagat (who unfortunately missed the Paris Games due to a whereabouts suspension) clinch the gold medal at Tokyo, Nitesh knew exactly wanted to do. Today, he managed to emulate his idol and continued India’s legacy in the Men’s Singles SL3 event. The shuttler’s inspirational story, en route to the top of the podium, is a lesson for everyone on how to overcome difficult circumstances.

Nitesh’s medal is the start of what is going to be a medal flurry for India in badminton today. Thulasimathi Murugesan and Suhas Yathiraj have been assured at least a silver by virtue of reaching the final and will be playing for gold tonight.

Also in action will be Manisha Ramdass, Sukant Kadam and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan, who will be fighting for bronze, as the Indian shuttlers aim to eclipse the tally of four medals won at Tokyo.

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