Published By: Rohit Chatterjee

Paralympics 2024: Kumar Nitesh Gifts India its Second Gold, Takes the Medal Tally to Nine

At 15, he was bedridden. 14 years later now, in 2024, he is a Paralympics medal winner

Hailing from Bas Kirtan, Rajasthan, Kumar Nitesh has won India's ninth medal in the Paralympics 2024, a gold medal in the badminton men's singles SL3 category. Against Great Britain's Daniel Bethell, Kumar won the first set with a score of 21-14. However, the second round went in the Brit’s favour with a scoreline of 21-18. The match proceeded to the third deciding round which Kumar won by 23 to 21. For the record, this is India’s second gold in the tourney.

Fourteen years ago, Nitesh probably had not thought of this day when he was left bedridden after losing a leg in a train accident in Vishakhapatnam in 2009. However, as they say, where there is a will, there is a way.

A turning point at IIT-Mandi

Nitesh joined IIT-Mandi, which proved to be the turning point of his life. His childhood was all about playing football, but the loss of his leg kept him away from sports. However, at IIT, fellow para shuttler Pramod Bhagat became his inspiration. Not to forget, Virat Kohli's dedication also pushed Nitesh to get back into the world of sports, and within no time, he found his calling in badminton.

Speaking to the Deccan Herald, Kumar revealed, "Pramod bhaiyya [Pramod Bhagat] has been an inspiration. Not just because of how skillful and experienced he is, but also because of how humble he is as a human being. I also admire Virat Kohli because the way he has converted himself into a fit athlete -- like how he used to be before 2013 -- and how he is now so fit and so disciplined. I was crazy about uniforms. I used to see my father in his (uniform), and I wanted to be in either sports or a defence job like the Army or Navy."

Leaving an imprint at the top

Kumar made his debut in the SL3 category in 2016, and within six years, he became the world number three in 2022. Since his debut, Kumar has won multiple medals in the international badminton arena. In the 2019 World Championship at Basel, Kumar won a silver in the men's doubles, followed by another silver in the same category in 2022 Tokyo. In 2024, he grabbed a bronze medal in the same category at the World Championships held in Pattaya.

Even at the Asian Para Games, Kumar Nitesh has made a name for himself. He made his debut in 2018, winning a bronze in the men's doubles, followed by three medals in 2022 at Hangzhou. Hangzhou saw him win a gold medal in men's doubles, a silver medal in men's singles, and a bronze medal in mixed doubles.

BWF Para-Badminton World Circuit

In 2022, Kumar finished as the runner-up at the Spanish Para-Badminton International and the Dubai Para-Badminton International, whereas the Brazil Para-Badminton International saw him win gold in the men's singles category.

At the 2022 Bahrain Para-Badminton International, he won gold in the men's doubles category, whereas he finished with silver medals at the 2022 Spanish Para-Badminton International, 2022 Brazil Para-Badminton International, and 2023 Spanish Para-Badminton International.

He has also won seven silver medals across categories in other international tournaments, such as the Uganda Para-Badminton International, Peru Para-Badminton International, Dubai Para-Badminton International, the Turkish Para-Badminton International, and the Irish Para-Badminton International.

With a Paralympics medal around his neck, Kumar has fulfilled his childhood dream of reaching the pinnacle of success in sports. He has consistently proven his mettle, defying all odds, and the game is certainly not over for him, as the 29-year-old is showing no sign of stopping. Off-the-field, Kumar Nitesh serves as a Senior Badminton Coach, working for the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.