Nitesh Kumar a Badminton Star won Gold at Paris Paralympics

Nitesh Kumar's Golden Triumph

• Nitesh Kumar won India's second gold medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024
• He defeated Daniel Bethell of Great Britain in the men's singles SL3 final
• The match lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes, with a final score of 21-14, 18-21, 23-21
• This victory marks India's third Paralympic medal in badminton, all of which have been gold

The SL3 Classification and Match Details

• SL3 is a classification for players with moderate mobility challenges
• Athletes compete standing on a half-width court
• The match was characterized by long rallies, especially in the first game
• Both players adapted their styles to quick exchanges in later games
• Nitesh's strong smashes and ability to handle court drift were crucial to his victory

Nitesh Kumar's Inspiring Journey

• In 2009, Nitesh suffered a permanent leg injury in an accident
• He continued his studies and gained admission to IIT Mandi in 2013
• At IIT Mandi, Nitesh discovered his passion for badminton
• His para-badminton career began in 2016 at the Para National Championships
• Nitesh won his first international title at the 2017 Irish Para-Badminton International

India's Paralympic Success and Future Prospects

• Nitesh's gold is India's ninth medal at the Paris Paralympics
• It's the second gold medal for India at these Games, following Avani Lekhara's in shooting
• India is assured of at least two more medals in badminton
• The country's para-badminton success continues from the 2020 Tokyo Games, where Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar won gold