Paris 2024 Paralympics, September 2, Live Updates: Nitesh Kumar Clinches India’s Second Gold, Wins Badminton Final – MASHAHER

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Two more golds?

Don’t forget, India can add at least four more medals TODAY in para badminton. Two of them can be gold.

Thulasimathi Murugesan (women’s singles SU5) and Suhas Yathiraj (men’s singles SL4) will be aiming for gold.

Manisha Ramadass (women’s singles SU5) and Sukant Kadam (men’s singles SL4) will be going for bronze.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Indians bow out in shooting

Having ended the precision round in the top 8, Indian shooters Nihal Singh and Amir Ahmad Bhat have both bowed out after the rapid round in the Mixed 25m Pistol qualification.

Nihal finishes 10th, Bhat 11th.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Third badminton gold for India

Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar had won golds in para badminton in Tokyo. Pramod was not allowed to participate in Paris in the SL3 event due to failure to report whereabouts, going against the anti-doping regulations. Nitesh Kumar has proven to be a worthy successor.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Commiserations Daniel Bethell

A valiant effort by Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in the final. He clinched the second game after being down 3 points. He fought back from 5 points down in the second game, and was one point away from the gold. A worthy finalist.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Elite mentality

Nitesh almost won it in two games. He was down 21-20 in the final game. But cometh the crunch moments, Nitesh stood strong, kept his composure, and delivers India’s second gold in Paralympics 2024. Outstanding stuff.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: NITESH KUMAR GOLD!

India will be celebrating another gold in Paralympics 2024! Nitesh Kumar wins para badminton gold in the Men’s Singles SL3 final!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: NITESH KUMAR GOLD!

India will be celebrating another gold in Paralympics 2024! Nitesh Kumar wins para badminton gold in the Men’s Singles SL3 final!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 21-21

This is drama here at La Chapelle Court 1. 21-21 in the men’s singles SL3 final.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 20-20

Daniel Bethell continues to persevere. This game is going down to the wire.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Match point Nitesh!

It’s 20-19 for Nitesh Kumar! One point from gold!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell makes comeback

Oh dear! From 5 points down at 17-12, Daniel Bethell has pulled off an incredible comeback. It’s all square at 19-19!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 2 more points!

19-17 now in the final. Just a few more moments for Nitesh to hang on to clinch a gold.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Three points away!

18-16 lead for Nitesh Kumar. India continues to pray, can Nitesh close it out this time?

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Gap down to 2 points

Bethell is not giving up just yet. The British badminton star racks up three points in a row to lessen the gap.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 5 POINT LEAD!

Nitesh is going from strength to strength. Daniel Bethell firmly on the back foot. It is 17-12 in the final and the gold medal is in sight for the Indian.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 3 POINT LEAD!

Nitesh Kumar has raced into a 15-12 lead in the deciding game! Can he hold his nerve this time? India waits to celebrate.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh leads at halfway!

Once again, for the third time, it is Nitesh Kumar who leads at the halfway mark. 11-10 in favour of the Indian. Minute margins in the men’s singles SL3 para badminton final.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 8-8!

Neck-and-neck, as you would expect. Nitesh and Bethell are taking this to the distance.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 6-5 lead for Bethell

Much like the second game, this one also looks set to go down to the wire. Points being exchanged at the moment, but the British second seed holds the small lead.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Shooting starts

Meanwhile, the Mixed 25m Pistol Qualification Rapid event has resumed. Two Indians vying for a spot in the final:

1. Nihal Singh, currently 4th

2. Amir Ahmad Bhat, currently 8th

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell up 3-2

Daniel Bethell leads the third and deciding game 3-2 in the early moments. Good start for the Briton.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Huge test for Nitesh

The 29-year-old will rue not finishing the match in the second game, but he needs to put it all behind now and start afresh for the third and final game. This has been a marathon match that has gone on for over an hour already.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh loses the second game

Oh will Nitesh come back to regret that? 18-17 up at one stage, but he loses four points in a row to Bethell, who takes the second game.

The gold medal match will go to a deciding game!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell leads

Bethell wins two points in a row, and now leads 19-18. Nitesh on the back foot for the first time in a long while in the second game. Remember, if Nitesh wins the game, he wins gold.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 18-17!

Three points away from gold, but these moments will seem to go by very slowly for Nitesh Kumar. India waits, India expects!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 16-16!

Bethell is not willing to surrender. This second game is going down to the wire and Nitesh will have to hold his nerve if he wants that gold medal.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Crucial point for Nitesh!

Yes! Nitesh takes the next point. Maintains a slender lead and breaks Bethell’s short spell of momentum.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell makes it 14-14

Three points in quick succession for Daniel Bethell. This will be the ultimate test of Nitesh’s resilience and mentality. Can he hold firm?

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Maintaining the gap

Nitesh Kumar continues to maintain the gap. Never resting on his laurels. 14-11 lead now for the Indian, over second seed Daniel Bethell in the final.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh leads at halfway!

Nitesh leads at the halfway point in the second game. 11-8. A crucial 3-point advantage for the Indian. Remember, if Nitesh wins this game, Nitesh wins gold.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh’s best trait

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Nitesh in this final has been that he has not let Bethell feel the momentum. Whenever the Briton gets a point, Nitesh fights back almost immediately.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh 7-5 up

Bethell receiving instructions from his coach and Nitesh continues to win more points. Still far from over, this tie.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Half-court games

To those unfamiliar, the men’s singles para badminton SL3 games happen on just one half of the court. 

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh roars back!

4-3! Nitesh Kumar, time and again, proving his skill. Two points in a row to take the lead in the second game. Excellent from the man aiming to be India’s second gold medalist of Paralympics 2024.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Bethell leads 3-2

Much like the first game, an early lead for Daniel Bethell. The Brit is executing his smashes well in a must-win game for him.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: More on Daniel Bethell

Bethell, 28, was also the silver medalist in this category in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Unless he scripts a major comeback, he is set to repeat that feat.

The second game is underway!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh wins first game!

A fantastic end to the first game for Nitesh Kumar. He takes it 21-14, and that is one hand on the gold medal. Vital.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 1 point away

Daniel Bethell has not dropped a single game in Paralympics 2024 men’s singles SL3, but Nitesh Kumar is on the verge of breaking that streak. 6 GAME POINTS!

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: Nitesh leads 18-14

A very crucial lead late in the first game for Nitesh. He is eyeing a 1-0 lead in the final now. A 4-point advantage will be a difficult one for Bethell to claw back.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Live: 3 successive points for Nitesh

The 29-year-old first seed once again making a comeback in the final. He had gone down 11-13, but then won three points in a row to retake the lead. At the moment, it is 15-14 for the Indian.