Pramod Bhagat made history on Saturday by becoming India’s first para-badminton gold medalist at the Games. At the Paralympics in Tokyo, the 33-year-old won the gold medal in the men’s SL3 badminton singles and thus lived up to the claim of number 1 in the world and the favorite before the tournament.
Pramod Bhagat had targeted the Paralympic medal after the badminton premiere in Tokyo was announced. The senior campaigner, considered one of the best in the SL3 category, took the opportunity when he got the upper hand on his game debut.
Pramod Bhagat, a four-time World Cup gold medalist, defeated Britain’s Daniel Bethell 21:14, 21:17 in 45 minutes and won India’s historic gold in the games’ para-badminton debut.
After the notable straight game win, Bhagat raced up to his coach and hugged him on the sidelines as the television cameras panned to India’s historian.
It’s official Pramod Bhagat wins GOLD for India for the first time in the very first edition of #ParaBadminton at #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/J4zgwwMmu2
– Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) September 4, 2021
Hands Sarkar wins bronze
Meanwhile, Manoj Sarkar, who lost the semi-finals of the SL3 event earlier in the day, won back to take on bronze and bring India’s medal record to 17. Sarkar defeated Daisuke Fujihara from Japan in even games (22-20, 21-13). to ensure that two Indians are on the podium in the men’s SL3 singles. In fact, it was Pramod who defeated Daisuke in the semi-finals in even games.
The Indian Shutter started the grand finale on a shaky note, but it dominated the proceedings with the drift favoring its side of the court. It only took Pramod 21 minutes against Bethell. However, the British breech put the defeat in the opening game behind and raced 11: 4 in the lead.
Pramod, however, did not shrug off as the Indian star recovered, admitting only 6 points to his opponent from then on, while winning 17 of them to take the gold in even games.
Bhagat, who developed polio at the age of 5, is one of the best para-shuttles in the country with 45 international medals, including four World Cup gold medals and one gold and one bronze medal at the Asian Para Games 2018.
In the SL classification, people with standing / lower limbs / severe disabilities are permitted. In the SL3 event, only half of the playing field is used by players who are currently serving and who also use the area after the first sideline.
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