Top-seeded Indian para shuttler Nitesh Kumar clinched the gold medal in Men's Singles SL4 para badminton Final at La Chapelle Court on Monday (September 2). The legendary para shuttler secured India's second gold medal at the Paris Paralympics, following Avani Lekhara, who won the first gold for the country.
India's medal tally has now increased to 9, comprising two gold, three silver, and four bronze medals.
In a lengthy and demanding rally that tested the endurance and skill of both finalists, Nitesh maintained his composure to win the first game against Britain's Daniel Bethell. Kumar's strong defensive play led Bethell to make errors, resulting in a 21-14 victory for the Indian para shuttler in the opening game.
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Even in the second game, the two competitors were locked in a intense clash. At one point, Nitesh was ahead 18-17 but then lost four consecutive points, allowing his opponent to win the second game and force a deciding match.
By the time the decider began, the match had already stretched into a marathon that had lasted over an hour.
As expected, the two competitors took the decider to the limit, with the match remaining intensely close throughout.
Earlier on Saturday, Nitesh Kumar secured his first medal in the men's singles SL3 category at the Paris Paralympics by advancing to the finals with a dominant straight-game victory over Japan's Daisuke Fujihara in their semifinal clash. He defeated Fujihara with a convincing score of 21-16, 21-12.
Nitesh, an SL3 category player who secured a silver medal at last year's Asian Para Games in China, topped the group stage at the Paris Paralympics. The 29-year-old trained engineer wears a prosthetic on his left leg following a tragic train accident during his college years.
The SL3 category is designated for athletes with significant lower limb impairments, and matches are played on a half-width court.
An IIT Mandi graduate, Nitesh ensured that India will once again bring home a medal in the SL3 category. For the unversed, Pramod Bhagat had clinched the gold in para-badminton in the same category at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago.