Badminton

India's Nitesh Kumar, a 29-year-old IIT Mandi graduate, has secured a spot in the semifinals of the men's singles SL3 group A para badminton competition at the Paris Paralympics. Kumar, who suffered a permanent leg injury in an accident in 2009, displayed exceptional skill and determination in his second match, defeating China's Yang Jianyuan in straight games (21-5, 21-11).Kumar's victory ensures him a top-two finish in the four-man group, with the top two players from each group advancing to the semifinals. He will face Thailand's Bunsun Mongkhon in his final group match.However, Manasi Joshi and Manoj Sarkar's hopes of reaching the semifinals were dashed after they suffered their second consecutive defeats. Joshi, a 2019 World Champion, narrowly lost to Ukraine's Oksana Kozyna (21-10, 15-21, 21-23) in her second women's singles SL3 Group A match. Sarkar, a Tokyo bronze medalist, also faced defeat, losing to Bunsun (19-21, 8-21) in his second Group A match.In the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 group stage, Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan lost to the Indonesian pair of Ramdani Hikmat and Oktila leani Ratri (15-21, 8-21). Suhas Yathiraj and Palak Kohli also suffered a defeat to France's Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noel (15-21, 9-21) in their second group A mixed doubles match.

Krishna Nagar, India's para badminton star, has faced countless challenges throughout his life. Despite being bullied for his short stature, he refused to let his dwarfism condition define him. Instead, he found solace in sports, excelling in cricket, football, volleyball, long jump, and sprints.In late 2017, Krishna's badminton journey began at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. He made history at the Tokyo Paralympics, becoming only the second Indian after Pramod Bhagat to win a gold medal. Now, as he prepares to defend his title in Paris, the 25-year-old is focused on maintaining composure and playing it safe."This is my second Paralympics, and there is some nervousness because it's a big tournament," Krishna said. "It's a dream to participate in such a prestigious event. My main aim is to defend the gold medal and live up to the expectations."Standing at about 4 feet 6 inches, Krishna is one of 13 Indian para badminton players set to compete in Paris. Life has not been easy for him even after Tokyo success. An injury threatened to thwart his progress, and losing his mother was a devastating setback.But the strong-willed athlete has risen above adversity. "Losing my mother was devastating," he said. "But time heals."Krishna's preparations for Paris have been focused on adapting his style to different conditions and opponents. "The game is evolving, and I'm focusing on adapting my style to different conditions and opponents," he said. "Whether fast or slow, I need to stay positive, keep the shuttle in play, and execute smashes safely."Krishna secured his first para World Championship title in February this year in Thailand, defeating China's Lin Naili in the final. "It's crucial to stay positive, play safe, and remain calm," he emphasized. "There are new players this time, and the competition is tougher. We need to be more agile and play with speed and positivity."When asked if the absence of Pramod Bhagat, a five-time world champion, increases the pressure on him, Krishna replied, "Not at all. It's the blessings and support of the people, the government, PCI, and BAI that have brought us this far. I know Pramod Bhaiya won't be there this time, but I'll do my best."Krishna acknowledged that Tokyo success redefined his life. "Life has changed completely since then," he said. "People have started recognizing para badminton and the Paralympics. In Tokyo, it was a big opportunity for us, there was a lot of excitement and curiosity. It was my first time, and I was nervous, but gradually things fell into place."

Indian Para Badminton Team Aims for 10 Medals at Paris Paralympics Despite Bhagat's SuspensionLUCKNOW: The Badminton World Federation's (BWF) 18-month suspension of Tokyo Paralympics gold medalist Pramod Bhagat for whereabouts failures has not dampened the spirits of the Indian para badminton team bound for Paris. Chief national coach Gaurav Khanna remains confident that the team can win 10 medals, including three golds, at the upcoming Games."We were aware of the action against Bhagat and had planned our training accordingly. His absence won't affect our plans," Khanna said. "I am sure our shuttlers will win 10 medals, including three golds."India won four medals in badminton at the Tokyo Paralympics, including two golds. Since then, Indian players have dominated at the international level, winning over 500 medals, including 18 at the World Championships and 21 at the Asian Para Games."We started from scratch three years before Tokyo with no hope of medals. Today, our shuttlers have won over 1000 medals at the national and international levels," said Khanna, a Dronacharya and Padma Shri awardee.Seven para-shuttlers have been undergoing intensive training in Lucknow since July, dedicating around 10 hours a day. "It helps us plan our training well and rectify our mistakes," said Palak Kohli, a 2024 World Championships bronze medalist.Kohli, who will compete in the women's singles SL4 category and mixed doubles, said she has learned from the Tokyo Paralympics and is determined to win a medal in Paris. "I have faced many challenges, but I never lost focus on winning. I am confident I will achieve my target this time," said Kohli.Khanna praised the team's hard work and dedication. "We have chalked out our strategy based on our rivals in each category. Every shuttler has been asked to study their opponents' videos and work on their shortcomings," he said.