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Nitesh Kumar, a 29-year-old Indian para-badminton player from Haryana, made history on Monday by securing his maiden Paralympic gold medal in the men's singles SL3 category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Kumar's victory came in a thrilling final match against Great Britain's Daniel Bethell, a contest that stretched over an hour and 20 minutes. Despite being under pressure at times, Kumar displayed exceptional skill and resilience, ultimately winning the match with a score of 21-14, 18-21, 23-21.
Kumar's victory was met with an outpouring of congratulations from across India, with social media platforms buzzing with celebratory messages. The Royal Challengers Bangalore, a popular Indian Premier League cricket team, tweeted, "From IIT to the 🔝 of the Podium.🥇🫡 An epic thriller and a #MadeOfBold performance from Nitesh Kumar, after being under the pump, to snatch the Gold at #Paris2024 #Paralympics! 🔥#PlayBold #TeamIndia #Cheer4Bharat." Other notable figures, such as Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) and Manoj Tiwary, also took to Twitter to express their delight and admiration for Kumar's achievements.
Kumar's journey to Paralympic glory is truly inspirational. The talented shuttler's life took a tragic turn in 2009 when he was involved in a train accident in Visakhapatnam at the age of 15, resulting in the loss of his left leg. Despite this devastating setback, Kumar persevered, channeled his determination, and ultimately triumphed on the international stage. His gold medal win in Paris is not only a testament to his exceptional skill and unwavering spirit but also serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes across the globe. Kumar's victory also ensures that India retains the SL3 gold medal, following the success of Pramod Bhagat at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago.