Reigning world champion Pramod Bhagat claimed a historic Gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 class while Manoj Sarkar bagged a Bronze as Indian badminton players dished out an impressive performance to continue country’s medal rush at the Tokyo Paralympics, here on Saturday.
World number one Bhagat, who is also an Asian champion, humbled Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in the summit clash while Sarkar defeated Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in the third place play-off.
In SL3 classification, athletes with lower limb impairment compete.
With badminton making its debut at the Paralympics this year, Bhagat, became the first Indian to win a Gold medal in the sport.
The top seed showed great mental fortitude as he prevailed 21-14, 21-17 over second seeded Bethell in a thrilling final that lasted 45 minutes at the Yoyogi National Stadium.
“This is very special to me, it’s my dream come true. Bethell really pushed me but I just kept my calm and played to my strengths,” said Bhagat after wining India’s fourth Gold medal in the ongoing Tokyo Games.
“I would like to dedicate this to my parents and to everyone who has supported me throughout. I’m glad I could make India proud.”
Bhagat said he had a strategy in place for his rival.
“I played the same opponent in Japan two years ago and I lost. That was a learning opportunity for me. Today it was the same stadium and the same environment, and I devised a strategy to win. I was very determined.”
The 33-year-old from Bhubaneswar also remains in contention for a Bronze medal in mixed doubles SL3-SU5 class.
Bhagat and his partner Palak Kohli will meet Japanese pair of Daisuke Fujihara and Akiko Sugino in the Bronze medal play off on Sunday.
They had lost the semifinals 3-21, 15-21 to Indonesian combination of Hary Susanto and Leani Ratri Oktila.
Bhagat, who had contracted polio when he was four years old, picked up the sports after watching his neighbours play. Initially, he competed against able-bodied players before getting into competitive para badminton in 2006.
He eventually emerged as one of the best para shuttlers in the country with 45 international medals under his belt, including four world championship Gold medals and a Gold and a Bronze in 2018 Asian Para Games.
The 31-year-old Sarkar, whose right leg was affected after he contracted polio at age one, displayed great resilience during his 22-20, 21-13 win over Fujihara.
Sarkar had lost his semifinals against second seeded Bethell, going down 8-21, 10-21 in SL3 class. But he recovered quickly from the defeat to produce a superb show to claim the Bronze.
Sarkar had taken up badminton at age five but it was the passion to win against his elder brother’s which led him to play the sport seriously. He played inter-school competition against able-bodied players till the 11th grade before starting to compete in para badminton in 2011.
He won a Gold medal in the SL3 singles at the 2016 Asian Championships in Beijing.
More medals are in store for India as Suhas Yathiraj and Krishna Nagar also sailed into the men’s singles finals of SL4 class and SH6 class respectively.
Tarun Dhillon too stayed in contention for a Bronze after losing his semifinals earlier in the day.
In SL4 class, Suhas outwitted Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan 21-9, 21-15 in the first semifinal.
The 38-year-old, who has an impairment in one of his ankles, will face top seed Lucas Mazur of France in the final on Sunday.
Krishna, seeded second, outplayed Great Britain’s Krysten Coombs 21-10, 21-11 in the SH6 class semifinals. He will cross swords with Hong Kong’s Chu Man Kai in the final on Sunday.
In SL4 class semifinal, Tarun went down narrowly 16-21, 21-16, 18-21 to Mazur. He will face Setiawan in the Bronze medal play off.