Bahrain Para Badminton: Pramod Bhagat, Tarun Dhillon bag golds as India set for rich medal haul

PTI

New Delhi, May 21

Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat secured two golds to lead the Indian badminton team’s medal rush at the Bahrain Para Badminton International in Manama on Saturday.

Bhagat received a walkover from arch-rival Daniel Bethell of England in the men’s singles SL3 final, while he paired up with Manisha Ramdass to outwit Thailand’s Siripong Teamarrom and Saensupa Nipada 21-14 21-11 in the summit clash of mixed doubles SL3-SU5 class.

World number one Bhagat, who had settled for two bronze medals in the Brazil Para Badminton International recently, registered a convincing 21-16 21-14 win over compatriot and Paralympic bronze medallist Manoj Sarkar in the SL3 semifinals.

“I am excited on winning the double gold. This will boost my preparation for Dubai International. I hope Bethell feels fine soon and comes back to court quickly. My partnership with Manisha Ramdass also began very well, we gelled well together and she played really well,” Bhagat said.

Tarun Dhillon also secured a gold after beating Korea’s Shin Kyung Hwan 21-9 21-9 in the men’s singles SL4 final. The Indian had notched up a 21-14 21-15 win over Thailand’s Siripong Teamarrom in the semifinals.

In women’s singles, Mandeep Kaur (SL3) lost 5-21 17-21 to Halime Yildiz to sign off with a silver medal. She had pulled off a shocking 21-18 21-14 win over top seed and compatriot Manasi Joshi in the semifinals.

Among others, Dhillon and Nitesh Kumar also registered a win in the men’s doubles SL3-SH4 semifinals, defeating Korean Hwan and Joo Dongjae in straight games 21-18 21-18 and will take on Thailand’s Mongjon Bunsun and Siripong Teamarrom in final.

In women’s events, Ramdass (SU5) and Mandeep Kaur (SL3) reached the final of women’s doubles SL3-SU5 class.

The second seeded pair of Kaur and Ramdass, who has a gold together from the Brazil Para Badminton International, will face the Paralympic duo of Palak Kohli and Parul Parmar in the final.

Parmar, however, lost to Turkey’s Halime Yildiz 21-5 21-18 in her women’s singles SL3 semifinals.

Among other Indian finalists are Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan, who defeated Thailand’s Chai Saeyang 21-13 21-18 in the women’s singles SH6 last-four round.

Chirag Baretha and Raj Kumar also made it to the final of men’s doubles SU5 event, as did Dhinagaran Pandurangan and Sivarajan Solaimalai in doubles SH6.

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