Indian para-badminton players Pramod Bhagat, Sukant Kadam, and Krishna Nagar achieved remarkable success at the China Para Badminton International 2025.
India win medals galore in China Para Badminton International 2025
Leading the charge was ace shuttler Pramod Bhagat, who made a stunning return to form after 18 months by clinching the men's singles SL3 gold medal. In a thrilling final against Muh Al Imran of Indonesia, Pramod lost the first set 15-2 but fought back with incredible resilience to win the next two sets 21-19 and 21-16. This emotional victory marked his comeback to the international circuit after he was forced to miss the Paris Paralympics due to three whereabouts failures.
In the men's doubles event, Pramod Bhagat and Sukant Kadam secured a silver medal. They were defeated in a gripping final by their compatriots Jagadesh Dilli and Naveen Sivakumar with a final score of 18-21, 22-20, 18-21.
Meanwhile, World No. 1 Sukant Kadam delivered a strong performance in the men's singles SL4 category. He battled through a challenging draw to reach the final, where he ultimately secured a silver medal after losing to Lucas Mazur of France with a score of 9-21, 8-21.
Krishna Nagar, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion, also contributed to India's medal tally with a silver medal in the men's singles SH6 event. He fought valiantly in a close three-setter against Natthapong Meechai of Thailand before settling for second place, with the final scoreline reading 22-20, 7-21, 17-21.
"This gold medal is very special for me. Coming back after 18 months and proving myself again is a priceless feeling. I want to thank my coaches, supporters and everyone who believed in me during the tough phase. This is just the beginning of my comeback story," Pramod Bhagat said after the match, as quoted by ANI.
"Winning silver in such a competitive field is an honor, but I know I can do better. Lucas played brilliantly, and I will take this match as a learning experience. My aim is to convert silver into gold in the upcoming tournaments. I am grateful to represent India and to make the country proud," Sukant Kadam said.
Meanwhile, Krishna Nagar stated:
"Every medal motivates me to aim higher. The final was tough, and though I lost, I gave everything on the court. This silver medal reminds me that consistent hard work will push me further. I am committed to coming back stronger, with my focus firmly set on bringing more gold medals for India."