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Nitesh Kumar Clinches Gold in Men's Singles Badminton at Paris Paralympics
Top-seeded Indian para-badminton player Nitesh Kumar secured a historic gold medal in the men's singles SL3 category at the Paris Paralympics, defeating Great Britain's Daniel Bethell in a thrilling final. The 29-year-old from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, pulled off a dramatic 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 victory in one hour and 20 minutes. Nitesh’s gold marks India’s second consecutive top podium finish in the SL3 class, following Pramod Bhagat’s triumph at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Nitesh’s journey to the top has been one of determination and resilience. In 2009, a tragic accident in Vizag left him with permanent leg damage, crushing his dreams of pursuing football. Despite this setback, his love for sports never waned. It was during his time at IIT-Mandi that Nitesh discovered his talent for badminton, and soon began excelling, often competing against able-bodied players. His breakthrough came in 2016 when he won a bronze medal at the Para Nationals in Faridabad, showcasing his potential on the national stage.
Since then, Nitesh has gone from strength to strength. His crowning moment before the Paris Paralympics came in 2020, when he claimed gold at the National Championship by defeating Tokyo Paralympic medalists Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar. His dominance at the domestic level translated into success on the international stage, where he consistently won medals in various tournaments. The gold medal at Paris is a testament to his perseverance and skill.
This victory was even more special for Nitesh as it was his first win over Daniel Bethell after ten attempts. The British shuttler, a silver medalist at Tokyo 2020, threatened a comeback in the final set, but Nitesh's mental fortitude saw him through. After the match, Nitesh reflected on his mindset, stating that he focused on staying calm, which helped him during critical moments. With this gold medal on his Paralympic debut, Nitesh has firmly established himself as a leading figure in Indian para-badminton.
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