Bhubaneswar: Indian Para-Badminton sensation Pramod Bhagat staged a remarkable comeback on Sunday to clinch the gold medal in the World Para-Badminton Championships, adding another feather to his illustrious cap. Pramod faced tough competition from Daniel Bethell of the United Kingdom in the final of the MS SL3 category, ultimately triumphing with a hard-fought victory of 14-21, 21-15, 21-14 (2:1) in a marathon match that lasted an impressive one hour and 40 minutes.
In the semifinals, Pramod Bhagat engaged in a tightly contested match against India’s Manoj Sarkar, lasting for 75 minutes. The first set witnessed intense competition, with Pramod emerging victorious in the end. The closely fought battle continued in the second set, with Manoj Sarkar managing to level the score. The final decider went down to the wire, and Pramod showcased resilience, securing a 23-21, 20-22, 21-18 victory to secure his place in the finals.
Earlier in the day, India celebrated victories in other categories as well. Suhas Yathiraj secured a gold medal in the Side Lower (SL) 4 final, defeating Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan in straight games. Krishna Nagar engaged in a thrilling encounter against Lin Naili in the SH6 final, emerging victorious with a close scoreline of 22-20, 22-20 against the Chinese player.
However, Manisha Ramadass faced tough competition in the Side Upper (SU) 5 final, losing to Yang Qiu Xia of China with a score of 16-21, 16-21.
Pramod Bhagat’s outstanding comeback and gold medal victory reflect his dedication and skill on the international Para-Badminton stage, bringing pride to India and the state of Odisha.