Nitesh Kumar's Golden Debut Brightens India's Paralympic Glory

Nitesh Kumar, inspired by India's armed forces and cricket star Virat Kohli, won a gold medal in his Paralympic Games debut, enhancing India's medal tally. The nation aims to surpass its previous record of 19 medals from Tokyo. Other Indian athletes also secured silver and bronze medals in various events.

Inspired by the country's armed forces and cricket star Virat Kohli, a determined Kumar Nitesh sparkled with a gold medal on debut as India's para-badminton players ensured that the nation celebrated its best day at the ongoing Paralympic Games and remained on course for a record-breaking medal haul.

The 29-year-old engineering graduate from IIT, Mandi, who lost his left leg in a train accident back in 2009, won the top honors in the men's singles SL3 category, defeating Tokyo silver-medallist Daniel Bethell of Britain 21-14 18-21 23-21 in a gruelling final that lasted over an hour.

His gold was the icing on the cake on a day when India clinched silver medals through discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya (F56) and para-shuttlers Thulasimathi Murugesan (SU5) and Suhas Yathiraj (SL4), who had won a silver in the Tokyo Games as well. The bronze also came from a para-shuttler in Manisha Ramadass (SU5).

(With inputs from agencies.)