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Tag: Paralympics 2024

  • India’s Nitesh Kumar Wins Gold Medal In SL3 Badminton After Epic Battle At Paris Paralympics 2024 | Other

    Paralympics 2024: India shuttler Nitesh Kumar outplayed Great Britain’s second-seeded Daniel Bethell to clinch a gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 category in the ongoing Paralympics on Monday. Nitesh who discovered his passion in badminton at IIT-Mandi, added a second gold to India’s medal tally after shooter Avani Lekhra got his hands on the nation’s first gold at the Paris

    Paralympics with a sensational display in the women’s 10m air rifle final. In a game that went right down the wire, Nitest ousted Daniel with a 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 win to claim his stake at the top of the podium.

    The first set ensued between Nitesh and Daniel, a closely-knit affair. With both shuttles playing in a vertical half-court, rallies were quite longer. With both shuttles going neck-to-neck, Daniel enjoyed a slender lead with the scoreline reading at 4-5. Daniel stayed in front midway through the first set with an 11-13 lead.

    As the game progressed, Nitesh upped the ante in the second half of the first set to enforce his dominance over the Great Britain shuttler. A flurry of points saw him edge Daniel and wrap up the first set with a 21-14 lead.

    In the second set, it was Nitesh who took a slender 5-4 lead. Daniel tried to counterattack with in-body smashes. But the Indian, on several occasions, effectively negated it away with his defensive prowess.

    Nitesh slowly extended his lead to three by luring Daniel into making informed errors. He either went too long or placed the shuttle too short, allowing Nitesh to stay in the lead. Daniel retaliated by showcasing grit and display by winning three consecutive points to restore parity at 14-14.

    The second set went right down the wire, with Nitesh taking a narrow one-point lead and Daniel breathing right down the Indian’s neck by cutting short his lead. Daniel shifted through gears and increased the intensity by mixing smash and drop shots effectively.

    Daniel eventually took the lead with a well-placed shot right at the line, which Nitesh couldn’t lift across the net. His late surge saw him take two consecutive points to take the second set with an 18-21 win.

    The shades of the first two sets were visible in the gold medal decider. Once again, it was a closely fought affair between the two shuttles. But Nitesh managed to take a slim lead at the halfway mark, with the scoreline reading 11-10.

    Daniel tried to adopt an aggressive approach, and Nitesh replied with the same intensity to keep his one-point lead intact.

    But unlike the previous set, Nitesh raised the bar and raced to a five-point lead to take a step closer to the gold medal.

    But Daniel wasn’t in the mood to let Nitesh get his hands on the gold medal so easily. With precision, he reduced Nitesh’s lead to just a point.

    He couldn’t follow it up and struck the net, which allowed Nitesh to extend his lead to three points at 19-16. As Nitesh stood just two points away from the gold medal, Daniel made the Indian dance to his tune and restored the parity at 19-19.

    Nitesh netted the shuttle, leaving Daniel just one point away from the gold. Nitesh made it 21-21 with a drop shot, which Daniel couldn’t get enough height. Nitesh got his hands on the coveted gold after Daniel placed the shuttle outside the court. The crowd erupted with joy as Nitesh animatedly celebrated his win.

    After settling the historic gold, both shuttles shook hands and exchanged jerseys with each other. Nitesh arrived in the final after defeating Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in straight sets, 21–16, 21–12, in the semifinals.

  • Meet Nishad Kumar: From Losing Hand In Accident To Winning Consecutive Paralympic Medals- Know All About His Inspirational Journey | Other

    Paralympics 2024: India’s Nishad Kumar clinched a silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 event at the Paris Paralympics, adding to his silver from the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago. The 24-year-old achieved a season-best jump of 2.04 meters, finishing behind the USA’s Roderick Townsend, who also claimed the gold in Tokyo. Nishad’s impressive performance saw him dominate the 11-man field in the men’s high jump T47 event. However, Townsend outperformed with a season-best jump of 2.12 meters to secure the gold medal. Despite missing his third attempt at clearing 2.08 metres, Nishad shared a warm moment with Townsend, who embraced him, bringing smiles to both competitors’ faces.

    Who Is Nishad Kumar? How Did He Overcome A Life-Altering Accident?

    Born on October 3, 1999, in Una, Himachal Pradesh, Nishad Kumar faced a significant challenge early in life. At just six years old, he lost his right hand in an accident involving a grass-cutting machine. Despite this life-changing incident, Nishad’s spirit and determination remained unbroken. Inspired by his mother, who was a state-level volleyball player and discus thrower, Nishad’s passion for sports only grew stronger.

    Finding His Path In Athletics

    Nishad’s journey in sports began with wrestling, but he soon found his true calling in athletics, initially experimenting with javelin throw before settling on high jump. His athletic talents quickly caught the attention of coaches, and by 2017, he was receiving professional training. Nishad made his international debut at the Asian Youth Para Games in the same year, where he won a gold medal, marking the beginning of his successful career in high jump.

    Education and Athletic Achievements

    Nishad’s commitment to both sports and academics is evident from his educational background. He studied at DAV College in Chandigarh, then continued his education at Himachal Pradesh University and Lovely Professional University, focusing on physical education. His dedication to his sport soon brought him success at the senior level. In 2019, he won a bronze medal at the World Para Athletics Championships and gold at the Dubai Grand Prix, signaling his arrival on the international stage.

    Making History: From Tokyo to Paris

    Nishad’s career reached a pivotal moment at the Tokyo Paralympics, where he won a silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 event and now after 4 years he clinched another silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 event at the Paris Paralympics. Nishad’s silver not only brought him personal glory but also added to India’s growing reputation in the international para-athletics arena.