IIT graduate Nitesh Kumar, with a penchant for numbers and the willow, struck gold on his debut in the SL3 singles para-badminton category in the final at the Paris Paralympics 2024. At 29 years young, turning the tables on his long-time nemesis Daniel Bethell, he kept the audience on tenterhooks throughout the nail-biting final, finishing 21-14, 18-21, 23-21.
The Ultimate Showdown: Nitesh vs Bethell
Just imagine this: two behemoths colliding-the top two seeds-and bragging rights to boot in a match that did not just deliver, but exploded! Nitesh, who had lost his leg in a train accident at the tender age of 15, was as cool as cucumber cake even when his prosthetic leg needed a mid-match fix. He did not only break his nine-match losing streak against Bethell; he did so in style, snatching his maiden major singles gold medal.
SL3: Where Strategy Meets Stamina
This is no joke because the SL3 category is where players with severe lower limb disabilities give it their all on just half the badminton court. The result is longer rallies, more strategy and loads of skill. Nitesh was a maestro on the court, playing cool-headed brilliant games to force Bethell into mistakes shuttle by shuttle.
How to Make a Champion
Just when you thought it was all over, Bethell managed to claw his way back into the contest, taking the second game. However Nitesh was just not about to allow this gold to slip away from his grasp. In a heart-stopping decider, he held his nerve, played his game and sealed the deal with a roar that simply echoed through the arena. With this win, Nitesh not only secured a place for himself in the Paralympic hall of fame but also continued the golden streak for India in the category SL3. A journey from the classroom to the court is nothing less than inspirational; it proves that with grit and guts, you can smash any challenge that comes your way.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Sheye
