Tokyo Paralympics: Pramod Bhagat wins historic gold medal in badminton, Manoj Sarkar bags bronze

Mangalore Today News Network

Tokyo, Sep 04, 2021: Pramod Bhagat scripted history on Saturday as he became India’s first-ever para-badminton gold medalist at the Games. The 33-year-old won the gold medal in men’s singles badminton SL3 event at the Tokyo Paralympics, living up to the tag of the World No. 1 and pre-tournament favourite.

 

Pramod Bhagat had set his sights on the Paralympic medal after badminton was announced to make its debut in Tokyo. The senior campaigner, who is regarded as one of the best in the SL3 category, made the most of the opportunity by reigning supreme on his Games debut.

 

It’s official Pramod Bhagat wins first ever GOLD for India in the first ever edition of #ParaBadminton at #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/J4zgwwMmu2

— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) September 4, 2021

Pramod Bhagat, a four-time world championship gold medalist, defeated Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell 21-14, 21-17 in 45 minutes to win India’s historic gold in Para badminton’s debut at the Games.

After completing the remarkable win in straight games, Bhagat raced towards his coach and embraced him by the courtside as the television cameras were panned on India’s history maker.

Manoj Sarkar wins bronze

Meanwhile, Manoj Sarkar, who lost the semi-final of SL3 event earlier in the day, roared back to win the bronze and take India’s medal tally to 17. Sarkar defeated Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in straight games (22-20, 21-13) to make sure two Indians finished on the podium in the men’s singles SL3 event. In fact, it was Pramod who had beaten Daisuke in straight games in the semi-final.

The Indian shutter started off the big final on a shaky note but he dominated the proceedings with the drift favoring his side of the court. Pramod needed just 21 minutes against Bethell. However, the British shutter put behind the defeat in the opening game to race to a 11-4 lead.

Pramod though did not drop his shoulders as the Indian star rallied back to concede just 6 points to his opponent from thereon while winning 17 of them to take the gold in straight games.

Bhagat, who had contracted polio when he was 5 years old, is 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.

In SL classification, persons with standing/lower limb impairment/severe are allowed to compete. In the SL3 event, only half of the court is used with players serving straight and using the area after the first sideline as well.

Courtesy: India Today