Nitesh Kumar Clinches Gold in Men's Singles SL3 at Paralympics

India's Nitesh Kumar secured a sensational victory over Great Britain's Daniel Bethell in the men's singles SL3 category at the Paralympics, clinching the gold medal. This triumph adds to India's medal tally, following Avani Lekhra's gold in shooting.

Indian shuttler Nitesh Kumar triumphed over Great Britain's second-seeded Daniel Bethell to secure a gold medal in the men's singles SL3 category at the ongoing Paralympics on Monday. Kumar, who discovered his love for badminton at IIT-Mandi, claimed India's second gold medal after Avani Lekhra's victory in shooting.

The intense match saw Nitesh edge out Daniel with a nail-biting 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 scoreline. The first set was tightly contested, with long rallies characterizing the play. Daniel initially led with a score of 4-5, maintaining a slender advantage at 11-13. However, Nitesh turned the tables in the second half, ultimately winning the set 21-14.

The second set was equally competitive, with Nitesh taking a narrow lead. Despite Daniel's aggressive counterattacks, Nitesh maintained his edge. The set went neck-and-neck, but Daniel clinched it 18-21. In the final set, Nitesh regained control, secured a slim lead, and finally won the match as Daniel's errors sealed his fate. The victory was celebrated with much enthusiasm as both shuttlers exchanged jerseys post-match.