Top-seeded Indian shuttler Nitesh Kumar clinched the gold medal in the summit clash against Great Britain's Daniel Bethell.
The 29-year-old Nitesh, who overcame permanent leg damage from a 2009 accident, showed his dominance with a 21-14 19-21 23-21. win over Bethell.
The IIT Mandi graduate thus ensured that India returned with a medal from the SL3 category after Pramod Bhagat clinched the gold when para-badminton made its debut three years ago in Tokyo.
SL3 class players, like Nitesh, compete with more severe lower limb disabilities, requiring play on a half-width court.
Bethell, who was the runner-up to Pramod Bhagat in the Tokyo Paralympics, is a formidable opponent, setting the stage for an electrifying final on Monday.
"I still don't feel it. Maybe when I go to the podium and the national anthem is played, it will sink in," Nitesh said after the match.
At the age of 15, he lost his left leg in a train accident in Visakhapatnam in 2009. However, this devastating event didn't crush his spirit.
His victory on Monday not only marked a personal triumph but also ensured that India retained the SL3 gold, which Pramod Bhagat had won three years ago when badminton made its Paralympic debut in Tokyo.
Facing an opponent who had beaten him nine times in the past, Nitesh, this time, displayed immense mental fortitude as he recorded his first win over Bethell.
"I didn't think it this way. Thoughts were coming into my mind about how I would win. But I was not thinking about what I would do after I won, I pushed that feeling away," he said.
The final was a test of endurance and skill, with both players engaging in excruciating rallies, including a nearly three-minute rally of 122 shots in the opening game.
Nitesh's sharp reverse hits, delicate drop shots, and polished net play kept Bethell on his toes throughout the match.
The opening game saw Nitesh behind 6-9 at one point, but his rock-solid defence allowed him to claw back, entering the break with a two-point cushion. He then surged ahead to an 18-14 lead, eventually sealing the game when Bethell sent the shuttle wide.
Nitesh could have won in straight games as he was leading 14-12 at one stage but Bethell staged a comeback, forcing the contest to a decider.
In the final game, the tension was palpable as the two athletes matched each other point for point, moving from 8-8 to 19-19. Nitesh had the first championship point at 20-19 but couldn't convert it.
Bethell, too, had a match point at 21-20 but faltered at the net. Finally, the Indian seized his opportunity, taking the match after Bethell hit long and wide.
"I have lost such a situation against him and I didn't want to make the same mistakes. I had lost my calm in the past so I told myself that I should keep fighting for each point. At 19-20 in the decider also I told myself to stick in there and make him earn the point," Nitesh said.
"I usually don't play with such patience and trust my strokes as they are deceptive but when I started in the first game here, I planned that I have to play well the first few points to get comfortable. Then I could play my strokes and I could see he was desperate. But due to the conditions, I didn't try too many variations, just looked to play steady."
The moment of victory for Nitesh was a culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. The journey from being bedridden after his accident to standing atop the Paralympic podium is a testament to his indomitable spirit.
Follow us
