Para badminton player Nitesh Kumar has claimed the gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024, triumphing over Britain’s Daniel Bethell in an exhilarating final on Monday.
Nitesh Kumar, who is currently ranked number one in the men’s singles SL3 category, was born on December 30, 1994, in Charkhi Dadri, Haryana. He studied electrical engineering at IIT Mandi and initially played football. However, a car accident in Visakhapatnam in 2009 led to a permanent leg disability.
Undeterred by his injury, Nitesh Kumar shifted his focus to badminton, developing a passion for the sport during his time at IIT Mandi. He refined his skills on the court, often competing against able-bodied players. He represented Haryana at the Para National Games in Faridabad in 2016, where he secured a bronze medal.
In the following year, he continued to excel, earning a silver medal in men’s singles and a bronze in doubles at the Bengaluru championships.
In 2020, Kumar reached a significant milestone by defeating Tokyo Paralympic medalists Pramod and Manoj to win the gold medal at the National Championship, further establishing himself as one of India’s premier para-badminton players.
Remarkable accomplishments
Asian Para Games (2022): Gold (Men’s Doubles), Silver (Men’s Singles), Bronze (Mixed Doubles)
Asian Para Games (2018): Bronze (Men’s Doubles)
World Championships (2024): Bronze (Men’s Singles)
World Championships (2022): Silver (Men’s Singles)
World Championships (2019): Silver (Men’s Doubles)
