Last Updated: February 27, 2024, 19:22 IST
Pramod Bhagat has accomplished a hat-trick of title wins. (Pic Credit: IG/pramod.bhagat8)
India’s Pramod Bhagat on Sunday gained a file fifth para badminton world title.
Dead happy to have equaled Chinese badminton icon Lin Dan’s file of 5 World Championships titles, Indian para shuttler Pramod Bhagat now needs to defend his Paralympic gold in Paris, and has additionally set himself an extended-time period goal of staying match until the 2036 Games.
The 35-12 months-previous Bihar-born para shuttler on Sunday matched Lin Dan’s file after outwitting nemesis England’s Daniel Bethell 14-21, 21-15, 21-14 in SL3 (standing/decrease limb impairment/extreme) closing.
“Since the Olympics, I lacked in my training and he also worked on his game and he always had an upper hand in the 7 to 8 times that we have played in the finals. So, it became a mental barrier for me. I had to break that barrier before the Paris Olympics,” Bhagat, who was identified with polio when he was 5 years previous, informed PTI.
“I wanted to rectify the mistakes which I had committed in open tournaments. So, in January, my doubles partner Sukant (Kadam) and I went to Nikhil Kanetkar Badminton Academy in Pune.
“Nikhil sir is an Olympian and has a lot of experience. He helped me. We focussed mainly on how I could regain my strengths and beat Daniel. Since it is a big event whoever wins will have an upper hand ahead of the Olympics.”
With the win, Bhagat accomplished a hat-trick of crowns after Stoke Mandeville in 2015 and Basel in 2019. He additionally gained a gold medal at 2022 Tokyo and 2009 Seoul version.
“It was an important win for me, not only because I wanted to equal Lin Dan’s record but also because the Olympics is the next big event, and I wanted to go into Paris without any mental barrier.
“It will help me to retain my gold and that is the goal now,” stated Bhagat, who was conferred the distinguished Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award in 2021.
Talking in regards to the Paris Games, Bhagat stated: “Tokyo was my debut Olympics and I got a lot of support from the public and government. The most important thing was the recognition which I received and it has made me more hungry to go and defend my gold.”
A fan of the Daddies — 39-12 months-previous Hendra Setiawan and 36-12 months-previous Mohammad Ahsan of Indonesia — Bhagat says he has an extended-time period purpose of competing at the 2036 Olympics.
“I also have a goal of participating at the 2036 Paralympics, which hopefully, India will host. Age is a number and I am fit and I hope I can stay fit and compete in 2036. It is a very long-term goal but not an impossible dream,” Bhagat stated.
India is seemingly to bid for the internet hosting rights for 2036 Olympics with Prime Minister Narendra Modi additionally declaring final October the nation’s curiosity in internet hosting the Games.
“If not singles, I can play in mixed or men’s doubles. India is becoming a sports hub and I want to be there when India gets to host the Paralympics.”
At the World Championships in Thailand, Bhagat additionally gained two bronze medals in blended and males’s doubles, together with Sukant Kadam and Manisha Ramadass respectively. The three medals took his tally to 14, together with 6 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze throughout classes.
Talking in regards to the 100-minute closing towards Bethell, Bhagat stated: “In the first game, I was playing fast-paced rallies, using more smashes and I was getting tired as he was good in dribbles. So, after losing the opening game, I changed my strategy.
“I started to keep him at the back, playing more tosses. As the rallies got extended, he started making mistakes as he wanted to get quick points and there after, I controlled the game. I was able to retrieve his shots.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)
