Paris Paralympics: Who is India's para shuttler Nitesh Kumar?
Nitesh Kumar has secured a gold medal for India in the para-badminton men's singles SL3 event, at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. The competition took place at La Chapelle Arena in Paris on Monday. This victory marks Kumar's first Paralympic medal, a significant achievement in his career. He defeated Great Britain's Daniel Bethell, who was seeded second, in three games - 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 - to seal India's second gold medal at the Games.
Kumar's victory showcased skill and determination
The gold medal match between Kumar and Bethell was a display of determination and skill that lasted over an hour. The SL3 category includes players with moderately restricted movement in one or both limbs, or those without limbs. The game is played on a half-width court without any restrictions on the shots played. Both players began Game 1 with long rallies characteristic of the SL3 category, leading to a closely contested battle until the midway stage.
Kumar's journey to gold was marked by intense competition
Kumar gained momentum in the first game, securing a 21-14 win. The second game saw another close battle, but the Indian player stumbled in Game 2. Despite Bethell's remarkable resilience and three consecutive points that forced a decider, Kumar managed to maintain his lead and secure victory. A 19-16 lead in the decider brought him close to gold but Bethell kept him on his toes with both players exchanging gold medal points before Kumar finally triumphed.
Who is Nitesh Kumar?
Nitesh Kumar is a para badminton player who was born in Rajasthan and currently hails from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, India. It is worth noting that the para badminton player is as an IIT graduate. He lost a leg in a tragic train accident in 2009, which also left him bed-ridden for months. Kumar was fond of football before he ventured into badminton.
A look at his achievements
Kumar turned to para badminton and turned professional in 2016 at the nationals in Faridabad. He secured the bronze medal in that event. A year later, he reigned supreme at the Irish Para-Badminton International. Kumar owns four medals (one gold, one silver, and two bronze) at the Asian Para Games. He also has three medals at the World Championship.
