Pramod Bhagat Paralympics: Wins Gold Medal at Tokyo 2020 

One of India’s premier para-badminton players, Bhagat came back from eight points down to defeat Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell and win in Tokyo Paralympic final – an extraordinary victory that fulfilled one of his longtime dreams.

He equalled legendary Chinese player Lin Dan’s five World Championship titles during this process; however, at 36 he won’t take part in Paris Paralympics.

Gold Medal at Tokyo Paralympics

Reigning Paralympic badminton champion Pramod Bhagat is an impressive force in badminton. A polio survivor who found solace in badminton after suffering a disability that affected his left leg, Bhagat has since gone on to dominate his category and garner himself a gold medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics for men’s singles SL3 event.

Odisha-born badminton legend Ajay Jayaram had an unexpected setback on his journey towards Paris 2024: on March 1, 2019 the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) banned him for violating BWF anti-doping regulations.

On Day Two of these Paralympic Games, Avani Lekhara successfully defended her Tokyo gold with a bronze in women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1. Also of note on day two are Mona Agarwal and Manish Narwal who won India its first-ever track medals; silver and bronze respectively – respectively!

Four World Championship Gold Medals

Pramod Bhagat was raised in Attabira, an obscure town in Odisha. At first he didn’t understand that competitive sport could accommodate his disability; today however he is one of India’s foremost Para badminton stars.

At the 2019 World Championships, Bhagat won two gold medals – in men’s singles and mixed doubles SL 3 categories – as well as bronze medals in both SL 4 and SH 6 men’s categories.

Bhagat won his fourth world championship gold in the SL 3 final by defeating Daniel Bethell from England 21-14, 15-21 and earning gold. Manisha Ramadass defeated Yang Qiuxia from China 21-16 and 21-15 for gold medal in women’s SL 4, while Krishna Nagar claimed bronze.

Four Asian Games Gold Medals

Pramod Bhagat, the reigning Paralympic champion from Odisha, overcame an eight-point deficit to defeat Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in an exhilarating final of men’s singles SL3 event at Para Asian Games 2018. Now this Odia shuttler has won four gold medals at these Games!

Bhagat and Palak Kohli combined to take bronze in mixed doubles SL3-SL4, before taking part in women’s doubles SL2-SL5 against Japanese pair Daisuke Fujihara and Akiko Sugino on Sunday. Since contracting polio at four, he has amassed an incredible collection of over 120 medals at international tournaments and national competitions.

Devendra Jhajharia won another gold medal for India in the men’s javelin F46 event while powerlifter Rajinder Singh Rahelu earned bronze, with Harvinder Singh winning silver in men’s individual recurve open archery category.

Four BWF World Championship Gold Medals

BWF World Championships is considered the pinnacle of badminton competition worldwide. Indian shuttler Pramod Bhagat holds four BWF World Championship gold medals – making him the only player from his home nation who has accomplished this feat.

29-year-old Anupam Jaitly of Punjab defeated Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell 21-11, 21-16 to win the men’s singles SL3 category final at an exhilarating pace with long rallies between both players.

At five, Bhagat was struck down with polio. Determined not to let this stop him from playing badminton, he began competing and quickly established himself as one of India’s premier badminton players, earning over 100 national and international medals between 2006 and 2013 — including four world championship gold medals – Arjuna Award Winner Biju Patnaik awardee Arjuna Award Winner also one of best jugglers in sport seamlessly playing both singles and doubles seamlessly; awards he earned during his illustrious career.