India’s badminton star, Nitesh Kumar, added another gold to the nation’s medal tally at the Paris Paralympics by defeating Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in the men’s singles SL3 category. The gripping final took place on Monday, where Nitesh, who discovered his passion for badminton at IIT-Mandi, showcased his talent and determination to overcome the second-seeded Bethell.
Nitesh’s victory followed shooter Avani Lekhra’s triumph, making it India’s second gold at these Paralympic Games. Avani had previously captured gold in the women’s 10m air rifle event.
The final match was a rollercoaster, with Nitesh ultimately prevailing in a nail-biting 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 win over Bethell. The first set was a closely contested battle, with both players engaging in long rallies. Bethell initially held a slight advantage with a 5-4 lead and maintained a narrow 11-13 edge midway through the set. However, Nitesh found his rhythm in the latter half, seizing control and taking the first set 21-14.
The second set began with Nitesh taking a slim 5-4 lead. Bethell responded with a series of powerful in-body smashes, but Nitesh’s solid defense kept him ahead. As the set progressed, Nitesh extended his lead to three points, capitalizing on Bethell’s unforced errors. However, Bethell fought back, leveling the score at 14-14 and eventually winning the set 18-21 after a late surge.
The deciding third set mirrored the intensity of the previous two. Nitesh held a narrow 11-10 lead at the halfway point, matching Bethell’s aggression with equal determination. As the set approached its climax, Nitesh managed to race to a five-point lead, edging closer to the gold medal. But Bethell wasn’t ready to concede, reducing the gap to just one point.
With the score tied at 21-21, Nitesh finally clinched the gold after Bethell placed the shuttle outside the court. The victory was met with loud cheers as Nitesh celebrated his hard-earned win. Both players then exchanged jerseys in a display of mutual respect.
Nitesh’s path to the final included a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in the semifinals, with scores of 21-16, 21-12.
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