Nitesh Kumar secured India’s second gold medal at the Paris Paralympics with a thrilling victory over Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in the men’s badminton singles SL3 final. This win, Kumar’s first Paralympic gold, adds to India’s growing success in the sport.
Kumar, the top seed, started strongly, winning the first game 21-14 with impressive shots and solid defense. However, Bethell responded with a fierce comeback, taking the second game 21-18 to level the match.
The final game saw both competitors push their limits. With the score tied at 20-19, Kumar and Bethell exchanged match points, but Kumar eventually won 23-21 in a match lasting over an hour and twenty minutes. This victory follows earlier golds by Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar at the Tokyo 2020 Games, further enhancing India’s Paralympic badminton record.
Nitish Kumar is an IIT Mandi graduate after losing his leg in a 2009 train accident in Visakhapatnam. He focused on his education and discovered his passion for badminton at IIT Mandi.
