New Delhi: Renowned Indian para shuttler Pramod Bhagat maintained his impressive performance by securing three titles at the 1st Abia Para Badminton International tournament in Abia, Nigeria, from September 30 to October 5. The 37-year-old, who previously won gold at the Tokyo Paralympics but was unable to compete in the Paris Games due to three whereabouts failures, triumphed in the men’s singles SL3 category with a challenging victory over compatriot Mantu Kumar, winning 21-7, 9-21, 21-9 in the final. Returning to competition after an 18-month ban, Bhagat displayed his characteristic composure and tactical acumen, recovering effectively after losing the second game to secure the match.
He then teamed up with Sukant Kadam to clinch the men’s doubles gold, overcoming Peru’s Gerson Jair Vargas Lostaunaul and Diana Rojas Golac with a score of 21-13, 21-17. His third title was achieved in mixed doubles (SL3-SU5), where he partnered with Arati Patil in another closely contested final, capping off a dominant performance that reinforced his position as India’s most accomplished para shuttler. “Every victory motivates me to push my limits further. Competing at this level and bringing glory to India is always special. I’m proud of the hard work and the support team behind these wins,” Bhagat stated in a release. His doubles partner, Sukant Kadam, commented, “Playing alongside Pramod always pushes me to bring my best game.
Our understanding on court has grown stronger with every match. This win gives us great confidence for upcoming international events.” Additionally, Ranjit Singh earned three bronze medals in men’s singles WH1, men’s doubles WH1-WH2 (with Paramjit Singh), and mixed doubles WH1-WH2 (with Shabana). Nurul Hossain Khan secured silver in men’s singles WH2, while Uma Sarkar received silver in women’s singles SL3. Sarkar also partnered with Arati for a bronze in women’s doubles SL3-SU5.
